Clean hands

I had just received a letter from the little girl I support in the Philippines. She was so excited to tell me that her school and others in her country were celebrating Global Hand Washing Day. And she asked if the children in my country celebrate it too.  I was astounded. I didn't even know there was such a thing; much less that it was global!

So I Googled and sure enough there is a Global Hand Washing Day celebrated by 70 countries. It is an initiative to decrease children deaths due to the spread of diseases caused by improper or not washing hands. In a lot of these countries water is not readily available or soap for that matter.

I had just subbed for a daycare where we sang (to the tune of Happy Birthday):

We wash our hands.

 We wash our hands.

We make lots of bubbles,

When we was our hands.

Those toddlers never questioned that each time they turned the spigot (and we washed hands a lot) there would be water or that they would not be able to make bubbles because there was no soap. I realized how blessed we are as a nation. I realized how blessed I am.

Then I found out that through several different agencies (World Help, Compassion International, and Samaritan’s Purse, just to name a few)I can help provide water for families and/or whole communities for a lifetime for what I consider an easy, not even a sacrifice, use of my money. So why haven’t I?

I think I have taken my blessings from God for granted. I didn't even know this need existed until a little 8 year old girl celebrated water and soap. It’s time I celebrated too.

Jesus, Himself said in Luke 12:15, “Beware, and be on your guard against any form of greed, for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.”  

OK, this got my attention. I was not on my guard. Instead I was guarding my possessions with both hands full. These dirty hands filled with everything I could hold.

Then Jesus told the parable of the man who had been blessed by God so much that he even built more storage for it. And Jesus said that he was foolish and really had nothing to show for it in heaven.Option 1:  Me holding onto everything on earth and building my own pile of possessions means nothing to God. Option two: Me using these blessings from God to build His kingdom means everything to God. I choose option two.

I'm going to celebrate Global I Can Help Give Clean Water and Soap to People Day. I'm going to let go of some stuff and show God some empty hands.

Some clean empty hands