“There are people in the world so hungry, that God cannot appear to them except in the form of bread.”
― Mahatma Gandhi
I learned this fact today and it grieved my heart:
“Approximately 1 billion people throughout the world go to bed hungry every night.”
This is a statistical FACT. However, for most of us stats are just numbers. Numbers used to quantify or classify a situation. Sadly, we DON”T pay attention to statistics. Today this statistic became real to me, as it took on human form. I had a conversation with someone today, that made me realize how much I take for granted, and how little I have to complain about. I, like many people, have had financial issues. But I have never had to take a drill and extract my own tooth…I have dental insurance. I have been hungry, but I have never had to rummage through garbage cans to find food…I have a Walmart card. I complain when my AC doesn’t work, but I have never had to sleep on the streets…I have NOTHING to complain about.
Food for thought. We have many more blessings than we think. Let’s stop looking at what we don’t have. Instead, let us be grateful for what we already have. Here’s a thought…instead of always getting, why not try giving?
So what am I thankful for today? I am thankful that someone (whom the world sees as a statistic) taught me that stats are NOT just numbers.
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I appreciate your blog, and this post. We sponsor a child in South Africa. It is incredibly rewarding to know that we are helping her receive food and clean water, as well as sending her letters and gifts. She is the second child we have sponsored. So rewarding….but wish we could help more of them. Maybe someday. Great post
I think sponsorship is awesome. I recently heard the story of an adult who was sponsored as a child. Her story is amazing, I have a link to it. I will send it to you when I find it. I will show you the goal of what you’re doing. Also it will bless you to know you really are changing a life for the positive. Thank you for stepping outside of the box and seeing the world around you. God bless you.
So true! Stats are not just numbers. There are real people behind them. Thanks for reminding me of that. 🙂 God bless!!
Thank you for your posts. I like that you touch on hard topics from a biblical perspective.
Thanks!! I loved your posts also. 🙂
Thank you that is a blessing to hear. I get nervous every time I post because I want it to be truth, REAL truth, God’s truth. I want people to walk away realizing that God is current, relatable, that He lives in the here and now.
Me too!! I want the same for my blog. 🙂 And I believe your blog is doing that. 🙂
Thank you! Someone told me today that encouragement helps to strengthen your feet (not a 100% certain what it meant). I took it to mean that encouragement helps you to stand. So thank you for the very encouraging words. They are helping me to stand strong.
🙂 And thank you also!
This was great to read and be reminded of!! Thank you so much for it!! I forget all of the blessings in my life sometimes and take things for granted. It is so easy to get caught up in worldly possessions and forget how good we have it!
Thank you for your comment. It was a reminder for me as well when I heard the statistic. We are very blessed, the goal is then to go an bless others. Thanks for commenting.
I love your blog and I’d like to nominate you for a Liebster Award! it’s for those of us with 200 or less followers. Keep up the good work and to find out how to accept, please see my blog post for today! http://365daystounstuck.wordpress.com/2013/04/26/day-114-the-liebster-award/
Thank you, that’s so nice to say. Also thank you for the nomination.
I am usually good with directions, but how do you link to a blog?
I think if you just copy and paste the blog name, it should work. Good luck!
Each of the statistics is someone’s parent, spouse, sibling or child. They are not nameless or faceless. They are all our neighbors and we are responsible for them! Great post!
It’s so funny you should write me a comment about this specific post. Because lately I have been feeling the need to do foster care…this post reminded me why I had a heart for that. Thanks for the comment, it has accomplished more than you know.
That’s fantastic! So encouraging. Foster care is probably one of the best ways to bring about lasting change in a child’s life. Let me know how it goes!
Awesome post! Great words! Continue writing the truth, we need to hear it like it is. It is the Kingdom of Heaven which we must keep living by serving those in need. Keep it up!
Thanks for the encouragement!
Great post. It is very easy to focus on what we don’t have rather than what we don’t have. I guess this started right from the beginning when the snake got Adam and Eve to focus on the one fruit they couldn’t eat!
Hmmm. I never thought of the garden in this way. They focused on the one thing they couldn’t have. That’s the enemy’s trick. Thanks for the perspective.