As a Compassion Blogger, I get the privilege of writing a post each month, directing readers tot he needs of hurting children around the world. Wes Stafford, Compassion International’s president, recently wrote a book titled “Just a Minute.” In it he talks about the fact that it only takes a moment for someone to impact a child’s life for the better.

I think we all have stories of times in our life where one statement impacted our lives-for good or bad. I remember well comments made by relatives about my looks and personality. These comments, probably spoken in the hopes of changing me in some way, planted themselves deep. They grew increasingly, like weeds, and took over my heart. They tried to choke any positive statements that attempted to make a way into my heart. As the years past, they developed into lies that whisper frequently in my heart. At times, they build to shouts that reverberate in my mind, telling me, “You’re not lovable”, “You’re not good at anything”, “Ugly” and “What’s wrong with you?”

As a psychotherapist, I can also testify that the more negative comments a child receives, it will become deeply woven into the fabric of who they are. The DNA of a person’s personality is shaped throughout childhood. It’s those tender years of youth that matter most to the healthy emotional growth of a person.

In the years I provided counseling to children, I found even those quite young had wounds already etched deep in their heart from words spoken by members of their family. I sadly remember one teen boy who asked me, “Why do you even try? There is nothing you can do to change him. He will always be abusive. That’s just the way things are.” This teen, so used to verbal tirades and abusive criticism, once told me that I was “too nice.” It is a horrible tragedy when kindness and compassion from a therapist is so unfamiliar, it is rejected as “too nice.”

Take a moment to watch this video clip from Wes Stafford. I hope that you come away challenged to encourage and build up any little eternal soul that crosses your path.

Perhaps you have a story of spoken words that impacted you-positively or negatively-that you’d like to share?

In Europe, December 6th is celebrated as St. Nicholas Day. I like to teach my kids about the real man behind the Santa Claus tradition. Each year, on St. Nicholas Day, I read them a story about the Bishop from Turkey. They learn about his generosity, his love for God and how the tradition of hanging stockings started. Then, we practice the same generosity. Last year, we filled stockings with necessary items and gave them to a ministry to the homeless.

This year on December 6th, we were traveling. I still wanted to have my boys practice generosity so we went online to the Compassion Gift Catalog. The gifts listed are not the typical ones my children would think of as presents: goats, chickens, mosquito nets, etc. We went through the catalog discussing why each of the items were included and why they were so needed in other parts of the world. Then each of my boys selected an item to purchase.

This time of year, as our minds get so easily distracted by the latest toy, electronic device or other fought over gift item, we often forget those around the world who don’t even have their basic needs met. Our family has enjoyed being involved in supporting the mission of Compassion International and believe in the work they are doing. For those who are not in a position to sponsor a child on a monthly basis, shopping from the Compassion Gift Catalog is a way to get involved on a one time basis. The items to purchase range in price from $5 to $325-meeting anyone’s budget. And each item is important; from the gift of God’s Word to giving a pig; from bottles of formula for infants to helping small businesses get started-we can all help share the love of Christ to those hurting around the world.

Would you consider giving in compassion to those who need it most? By even purchasing one less present for a family member, you are helping provide for someone in need. For more information, watch this video.

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’” Matthew 25:27-30

When we decided to sponsor a child through Compassion, we chose a boy from Kenya. Some of our best friends are from Kenya and we knew that one day we would go and visit the country with them. When I talk with the boys about our Compassion child, Ambrose, I try to explain to them that the life he leads is very different from their’s. Their biggest worry is whether they will get the lego set they’ve wanted for Christmas. I remind them of the thank you note we received from Ambrose not that long ago. We had sent him money for his birthday. What did he receive? Flour, sugar, beans and a pair of pants. My kids ask, “Why did he get that?” “Because, that’s what he needed” I tell them.

I often think about what his home looks like, his neighborhood and where he plays ball. I recently watched a video of a man who went to visit a Compassion project in the Philippines. During the trip, he got to meet the boy he sponsors. I couldn’t help but cry as I saw the homes in which the children live. I think of what it must be like for the parents, knowing they can’t provide for their children. Could any American parent imagine their child living in houses amidst flood waters? The children swim around the houses in the bacteria ridden water. No parent wants that for their children. If it breaks my heart, I know it must break theirs as well.

For anyone unfamiliar with the work Compassion does for children around the world, please click here to watch the video. Consider opening your own heart to a child whose only hope of a future outside of poverty is the love of a sponsor.

This month’s Compassion blog post is about an 18 year old Compassion sponsored child named Emilda. She has the mental capacity of a three year-old but she is a fast runner. When she was 2 years old, Emilda had a convulsion from high fever and after she woke up from being unconscious for six days, she never was the same. She lives in a squatter community in the Philippines, just outside a cemetary where half naked drunken men roam the streets all hours of the day.

In 2009 Emilda competed in the Philippine Special Olympics. She won a gold medal, two silver medals and a bronze medal in track and field. She did well enough to qualify for the World Special Olympics in Athens, Greece this coming Summer. Emilda’s parents cannot pay her way to the Olympics and neither can the Philippine government. The cost for her to go is $19,857.

Months before the 2009 competition, it didn’t look like there was any way Emilda would be joining the national event. Her parents could not afford to buy her new running shoes or a uniform. Nor could they pay for the psychological and medical tests that are required before competing. They couldn’t even afford for her to travel to the local sports complex for practice. For Emilda and her mother to go to practice each morning and afternoon, they need close to $1.25 a day to pay for the travel expenses. Emilda’s father earns $6.25 a week making tombstones. Her mother tries to make additional money by washing clothes but she can’t do that everyday because she has to watch Emilda constantly. It is very dangerous for Emilda to be out by herself since she is mentally challenged. So Emilda and her mother walk four kilometers every day to the sports complex.

Do you have someone on your Christmas list who has everything? You want to give them a gift but can’t think of anything? Compassion International has an on-line gift catalog of gift ideas that will help make a difference in the life of a child living in one of the poorest communities of the world. These gifts help provide clean drinking water, medical treatment, disaster relief, food supplies and much, much more for Compassion-assisted children and their families.

Some of the gifts include chickens, goats, clean water, mosquito nets and gift prices range from $10 to $5000. You can purchase these gifts in the honor of a friend or family member and make difference in the lives of those who need it most.

Jesus says in Matthew 25: When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’37“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 40“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’


Click here to view the catalog and provide for the least of these in the name of Jesus.

His name was Pete. As with most adolescents, I struggled with peer pressure, desires to fit in, and had a wrong self image of myself. Add to that a struggle with depressive thoughts that often threatened to overtake me. I honestly wasn’t sure I would make it through adolescence. But thanks to God’s use of other people in my life, such as Pete, here I am.

I was a lone teen in my church and didn’t know anyone else my age who was a believer. Then God brought Pete into my life. He was in his early 20′s and new to our church. He wanted to get involved with youth but I was the only one, so he offered to take me to another church’s youth program. That’s where I began to find love and acceptance and truly experience the community of The body. Pete remained a youth leader throughout my adolescent years. I learned much from him about scripture and God’s unconditional love for me. I remember times of feeling intense despondency and was able to call him at any time for a listening ear. He truy was an older brother in Christ. I really believe that God brought him and my youth group into my life at a crucial time. Without it, I would not be where I am today. His influence encouraged me to go to Christian college where I studied counseling. I then went on to get my Masters in psychology and ultimately I ended up working with children with similar aches and pains as my own.

Compassion International has asked their bloggers to share their stories of how an adult in their life spoke
hope into their world at an important time in their life. My friend, mentor, youth leader and brother in Christ, Pete was the one who God used in my life. Who influenced you in your life and spoke hope into your heart? And to whom are you speaking hope to today?

Compassion International’s mission is to bring hope to children around the world through education, food, clothing, and the hope of Christ in the gospel. Our families compassion child is in Africa and supporting him has opened our heart to someone half way around the world. Our children have learned more about the area he is from and learned that most children do not have tha advantages they have. We pray for our child and his family and teach our children about how Jesus loved those who were considered less fortunate, poor, and weak in the eyes of the world and has given us that calling as well.

So, what is your story?