But What Can I Do?

This afternoon, both my sweet boys are napping at the same time. Yes, it is a beautiful, beautiful thing!

We spent the morning reading books, playing with legos, talking to relatives on the phone, and having a sweet lunch at the "little table".  Maxwell has a little fever from his vaccines yesterday and Dexter has protested leaving the house for a week straight, so I decided we needed a stay at home day.  Yes, I need things from the grocery store, but more than that, my kids need some time to rest and be with Mommy.

But as I hold my boys today, and especially as Maxwell asks for more and more attention (this boy will TALK until you make eye contact and then he just grins like crazy!), I think of all the sweet babies around the world with no family and no one-on-one attention. 

Noel Piper recently blogged about this.  She says, in part:

There are millions of orphans in the world–163 million, I heard yesterday at the Together for Adoption Conference.

What can I do? That is exactly the right question to ask–twice.

First time: What can I do–what can just one person do? That’s the normal feeling we have when we learn about such a widespread, huge pain that seems to need millions of people working to make a dent. The only problem with that question is if it expresses hopelessness–”I’m just one person, so I can’t do anything.” To that, I say, If God had meant for me to be a committee, he wouldn’t have made me just one person.

Second time: What can I do? God did make me just one person, so how does he want to work through me? What gifts did he give me that he can use to make a difference for orphans?

Seriously, as a mom to little ones, how can my heart not break as I think of the 163 million children out there without moms and dads; without someone making sure they are held, all on their own, on a lap and read to; without a home where things are comfortable and secure and loved??

It really does seem overwhelming though!  I, little Whitney, can't do much from her house in Houston.  But, there is something I can do. 

As Mother Teresa said: "We can do no great things,only small things with great love."

As I read Noel's blog this week and as I hear more and more stories behind the little ones my friends are adopting, I feel more and more excited about partnering with Noonday Collection.  Seriously friends a family, get ready for your Christmas and holiday gifts to be from Noonday!  I can't wait to give you a fantastic gift, but also let you know that the same gift is making it possible from some of the 163 million children around the world to find their forever homes.

It's a small thing, but, perhaps all of us doing small things will make a big, big difference!  What is your small step that you are making with great love this year?