October 20

Haunting Faces


Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, ‘Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes my Father who sent me.’

Mark 9:36-37 (NLT)


... let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.

1 John 3:18 (NKJV)


I am an easy mark. Maybe….

My soft heart catches me by surprise at times. Emotions well up quickly—set off by a simple sight or a moving sound. Today it happened at the Christian bookstore.

Heading for the checkout everything was normal—until I saw them. Sad, colorful children from faraway places. They were World Vision kids—some of the most impoverished children on the planet—and they were staring at me. The four faces, plastered on the agency’s donation envelopes, begged me to stop, pick them up and consider their need.

Instead, I just stared back. I wanted to gather every one of them into my arms and carry them to the register. I really wanted to make a difference in their precious lives. But I didn’t. Too many excuses: “We’ve just started a son in college. We already give. We don’t have the money….” Unsettled, I checked out.

Something wasn't right. In fact, I almost cried leaving that store. But now I'm convinced, somehow, God will show me how I can help, how I can do so much more. So now, I’m begging Him, “Help me find a way—to ditch the excuses … to come back … to make a difference….“


Father, You love all these children just like You love me. Help me find a way to help, to understand the true value of sacrifice, to know the joy of giving and the wonder of being more like Christ. Amen.