Why Me?

When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required. Luke 12:48b NLT

For a week now, I have been reminded EVERYDAY by my happily eager daughter that today was coming . And now that today is here, the question that has been hounding me for the past few months, has resurfaced again.

Most mothers get pretty excited when their baby walks for the first time. A call is put in to the grandparents, an entry made in the baby book and maybe even a whole scrapbook page is dedicated to the occasion. At our house the celebration has been taken to a whole new level. Especially today. We are celebrating the 10th anniversary of the day my daughter, Chloe walked for the first time. She is ecstatically beside herself on this special day! So in addition to baking a cake for a family celebration, I’ve been baking cookies for her to bring to her weekly Physical Therapy appointment at which she walked for the first time on April 14, 2004 when she was seven years old. As a baby she was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, the same thing as her wheelchair-bound older brother and it was thought that she would never walk without assistance.

Chloe walks at age 7
Chloe walks at age 7 on April 14, 2004

One morning a few weeks ago, the same relentless question nagged at me when at the age of seventeen, Chloe put her socks on all by herself for the very first time.  After putting the first sock on in the privacy of her own room, she excitedly made her way downstairs to demonstrate her new-found ability with the remaining sock. Her excitement seemed to escalate–if that were possible–as she exhibited this activity again and again for any and everyone who would give her their attention.

Chloe put socks on by herself.
On March 6, 2014, Seventeen-year-old Chloe puts her socks on by herself for the first time.

Chloe’s expressions of joy and gratitude over these activities–the very same activities many of us have done thousands of times without a second thought, overwhelm me and make me grateful to be her mother. I honestly don’t know if I were in her place if I would have such faith and tenacity as she. Her struggle provokes in me the same question again and again.

WHY ME? Not the “Why me?” of the despairing sort that asks God how He could do this to me.  But the “Why me?” that asks God how is it that I am so blessed! Why do I get to see, taste, hear, smell, feel, walk and talk with no encumbrances?

In addition to the question of late, “Why me?” regarding the blessings of my health, I have also been consumed by this question as it pertains to the blessings of my resources. In January I began the Bible Study, 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excessby Jen Hatmaker. In her book she points out that if you make $35,000 a year, you are in the top 4% of the world. If you make $50,000 a year, you are in the top 1% of the world! (Source)  The book spurred me on and the questions flooded in.

Why me? Why do I live in a place where there is so much abundance?

Why, on cold winter nights, do I get to get into a warm cozy bed with high thread count Egyptian cotton sheets and a luxurious fluffy down comforter that is fit for a king while poor souls brave the elements with no roof over their cold shivering bodies?

Why can I get clean running water from thirteen faucets in my home when many in the world do not even have one clean source of water?

Why do I get to worship openly the God in whom I believe without fear of death while many are martyred for their faith?

Why was I afforded the opportunity of a college education while millions in the world are illiterate.

Questions like these arise daily. Although, I do not know the full answer, I do know the answer is NOT because I am special or that I am more worthy or deserving. Recently, I came across the lyrics to this song,  Blessed To Be A Blessing, which I believe, helps to answer the question.

I don’t know why I’ve been given so much  food to eat and clothes to wear
I know that I must find ways to touch someone in need out there
To whom much is given much will be asked
That’s why I do this, I need to give back
I’ve been blessed to be a blessing, I’ve received so I can give
and I must tell the world what God has done
cause I’ve been blessed to bless someone

The Apostle Paul seemed to answer the question well when he said, “You will be made rich in everything so that your generosity will spill over in every direction.” 2 Corinthians 9:11 VOICE

Dear Lord, remind us daily that we have been blessed so extravagantly so that we can be extenders of those extravagant blessings. LH

_______________________

Take a few minutes to check out this great opportunity to bless others.

CONVOY OF HOPE

I highly recommend this organization. They are financially transparent and 90% of funds raised go directly to their programs, 6% to fundraising and 4% for administration. They have multi-faceted programs that help local communities, child feeding, disaster Relief and many other compassionate outreaches. The video below highlights their agricultural outreach.

Agriculture Initiative in Haiti from Convoy of Hope on Vimeo.

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is an aspiring Bounty Hunter who is always looking for God's Bounty-- His grace and goodness-- in the mundane and melancholy as well as in the miraculous. She is also a wife, mother of four adult children--two with Cerebral Palsy, grandmother and minister of the Gospel. "You crown the year with a bountiful harvest; even the hard pathways overflow with abundance." Psalm 65:11 NLT

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