Are You A Blessing?

If you sleep inside at night, you’re among the world’s privileged, because one out of three live without adequate shelter. You’re rich.
Read a good book lately? Nearly a billion people entered the 21^st century unable to read or even sign their name. You’re rich.
Did you watch a favorite television show last night? One out of four people do not even have electricity. You’re rich.

Got the sniffles? Infectious diseases continue to blight the lives of the poor across the world. An estimated 40 million people are living with HIV/AIDS, with 3 million deaths in 2004. Every year there are 350–500 million cases of malaria, with 1 million fatalities: Africa accounts for 90 percent of malarial deaths and African children account for over 80 percent of malaria victims worldwide. Yet the sniffles put us to bed. What about those who don’t have beds to go to? We’re rich.
We’re all so very blessed. I don’t write this post to be a Debbie Downer. I’m writing to snap us all back to reality. During this season of giving, maybe we should consider stopping the shopping madness and give financial support to a reputable organization that takes care of the world’s less fortunate. How we take care of the least of us is an indication of how safe we all are.
Merry Christmas. Please consider paying a blessing forward into 2016. If you’re interested, check out Global Partners in Peace and Development. You will be blessed.