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     I was reading an article in National Geographic (click the link to read the article) about the world’s present shortage of food – which is getting worse – and the green revolution, which occurred the last time we were facing a similar crises in the 20th century. In the magazine there was a picture of an African woman and her baby. The baby was malnourished, because her mother couldn’t get enough food to produce the milk that she needed. As a man who is about to hold his own little girl in his arms very soon, I see the suffering of that African woman in a whole new way. It’s not that I didn’t care before. The horror of the situation hits me harder now.

     I have three thoughts that I want to share. I’m incredibly thankful that God has blessed me with so much. Though I have my worries, wants, and problems, I will never have to worry about my daughter starving to death (as long as a holocaust or apocalypse doesn’t hit America). She will never experience the kind of destitution experienced by so many people in this world. I’ll never be powerless to feed her, cloth her, shelter her and get her basic medical care – simple things so many parents cannot adequately provide for their children. I’m very grateful I will never have to experience that shame and suffering. I’m thankful, because I have done nothing to deserve the blessings that I have received.

     How then can I be blind to sufferings of others? For many years now I have struggled with the Bible’s, especially Jesus’ teaching on money, and the apparent danger I as a rich person am in. I feel that I have only just recently starting to understand what God is asking of me. My attitude in the past has been (at least partially): I need to sacrifice, fight consumerism and materialism, live in a poor area of town, not buy fancy clothes, or a fancy car etc. so that I can prove to God, others, and myself that I’m a good person. Now I find that I want to go without stuff that I don’t need so that I can share with others. I don’t want to get fat, while someone else starves. I still love good food – I know there’s nothing wrong with that. Food is wonderful – it’s one of the may wonderful gifts God has given us. I need food. But, I’m willing to eat a little less, if it means a mother in Africa can feed her baby.

     Finally I want to make sure I teach my daughter good habits. Habits concerning consumption, self-sacrifice in order to share, delayed gratification, healthy living, and virtuous living so that she may be a blessing to others. Incidentally I think this will also result in a more satisfactory life for herself. I want my daughter to be aware of the suffering of others, in order that she may have compassion for others. Not so that she’ll just feel guilty for the wonderful things she has and enjoys, but so that she will bless others because she has been blessed. My parents taught me good habits. I didn’t always like it when I was a child, but I’m thankful for those habits now. I want to pass those habits along. I know I need to make some changes in the way I live in order that I may help others more. I want to make those changes.