Compassion President Dr. Wess Stafford often says that “latitude and longitude can determine whether you’re wealthy or poor in this world.” It’s true. I was born here…so I have access to things that others only dream about.
That lesson hit me hard this week when my 11-month-old son, Morgan, got sick. His doctor tells us that it’s a gastrointestinal virus that’s going around. The worst part of it is diarrhea. Poor little guy, he’s just so uncomfortable. So, we’ve been giving him plenty of fluids, trying to get him to take naps (though he’s been extremely restless) and just loving on him…cuddling.
Then I remembered a statistic in our Health Quick Facts section of Compassion’s website:
There are 1.5 million diarrhea-related deaths of children under the age of five in this world, every year.
1,500,000 children dying of what my little boy has right now.
My son is fortunate. We can afford to take him to the doctor. We have access to clean water and formulas that can help replenish the nutrients his body needs. And I am thankful to God for that. But I pray for those families who don’t have the same. I pray for those who, because of latitude and longitude, have no access to clean water and formula…or can’t afford to visit the doctor.
It’s not really fair, is it? We were born here, so we thrive. They were born there, so they struggle to survive. But poverty has never played fair. And God told us what the great equalizer is: YOU and ME. He called for those of us who have to share with those who do not.
Today, I ask you to pray for children in poverty. I ask you to cross the lines of longitude and latitude and give to those who suffer due to something as silly as geography. Maybe it’s through sponsoring a child. Or maybe it’s giving to one of Compassion’s funds designed to help those in need.
Whatever it is, find a way for your hope to cross the globe.
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And your little boy has a Dad and Mum to love him and hold him through this illness. Millions of children don’t have that luxury either. We have SO MUCH to be thankful for.
@Tim –
One other question Tim what is your current role at Compassion? Do you need any help 😉
Tim sorry to clog your blog with all my comments but I just wanted to add this. It is ridiculous that there are 1.5 million deaths due to diarrhea each year!!! I know of a few organizations that work to prevent many things such as this, but it is amazing!!! I am so thankful Compassion exists to help me get mobilized to do something at least!!! I like how Kees mentioned on another post how the poorest person with Christ is richer than the richest person without Jesus. I am thankful Compassion does and seeks to do both!!!
Tim I would love to see your pictures and or videos from your upcoming trip. I will email you mine if you like. I plan to take a ton so I can remember and so I can show many others. Three huge reasons I am going on the trip is because God says “GO!!!” and I want to see the boys I sponsor and I want to see what it is like there even though I will not be visiting their places this time. Seeing your pictures would help give me a little more of an idea of some other places in the Philippines.
Here is my email
([email protected])
Tim that’s GREAT!!! It sounds like you are not on the sponsor tour, but on an individual trip. Or will I be seeing you on the sponsor tour? Congratulations on getting to visit!!! This question was posed by me before and another gentleman. I figured you could shed some light on it better than me. Why is more work not incorporated into the Sponsor Tours? Or why is the trip not set up in such a way that we do more work to help?
That’s great Mike!
Hope you have a wonderful and blessed trip. The little girl I sponsor is in the Philippines. Looks like I might get to go back there this summer as well.
Can’t wait to see her again!
Tim thanks for sharing a little bit about your life!!! You make an excellent point that I would never be able to think of because I do not have any kids. But I am a sponsor and have some kids through Compassion. I like how you said “those who suffer from something as silly as geography.”
Tim I will take you up on your challenge and cross the lines of latitude and longitude!!! I will go to the Phillippines on the Compassion Sponsor Tour in June (I had already planned on going, but I like your exhortation!!!) It just helps reaffirm what already is in motion!!!
Absolutely. It’s so scary, as a parent, to see your child sick. I can’t imagine how horrifying it is to see your child sick AND not be able to do anything about it.
Thanks for reading…and for commenting Vicki.
I thought of the same thing, last night, when I read an e-mail from a friend whose youngest grandson is on antibiotics (by injection) for a recurring infection. The antibiotics have, of course, given him major diarrhea. I thought how blessed that little boy is to be here, where diarrhea can be combatted.