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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Abundance (06/08/06)
He couldn’t have been more than three years old. He had the most beautiful chocolate colored eyes and they were looking directly into my soul. I didn’t know his name or who his parents were or even if he had parents. But his solemn little face will forever haunt me, what he was doing is forever branded in my memory. It was so astonishing.

He was eating dirt……

For two weeks I haven’t been able to stop thinking about the little boy who ate dirt. I saw him on James and Betty Robison’s Life Today program. The missionaries were in Angola, Africa feeding the children. As they walked into a barren village with cameras rolling, they stopped to film this small child. He was scooping dirt from the ground with his hands and putting it in his mouth. He was starving. My heart skipped a beat and my eyes filled with tears at this horrendous display of poverty. I almost couldn’t watch but at the same time, I couldn’t turn away. Something deep inside told me I had to do something to help.

I had many of bills piled up on my kitchen counter that needed to be paid and momentarily, I wavered.

“God will provide,” the Holy Spirit whispered, prompting me on.

No matter the bills, I knew I could not dismiss this! That little boy ate dirt just to try to stay alive……just to keep his gnawing hunger pains at bay, and it broke my heart. I had to help, even if it was just a little bit.

Then almost urgently, I heard the Spirit within me: “Pray, right now for this child and all the others like him.”
I dropped to my knees in obedience and cried out to my Heavenly Father:

“Oh, God in all Your mercy, I know how much You love this little one. He is Your own creation, Lord. Save his life by stirring the hearts of millions of others to give, give, and give some more. Lord, we have so much and he has so little. He has only You to equip us; Your followers to feed him and save his life. Lord, please help us to be givers of life, just like Your Son, Jesus Christ. You sent Him to us so that we may have life, in abundance and we do, Lord. Open our hearts……lead us to share with others what You alone have given us. These children have nothing except us, to help them. Show all Christians around the world it is our duty, our honor to love as You loved, to give as You gave. And God, after you fill their little belly’s please fill their hearts with the love of Your Son, Jesus. In Jesus Precious and Holy name I pray, Amen.”

Little children are dying from starvation in this world of plenty. As James, the brother of Jesus said in James 3: 10; “My Brethren, these things ought not so to be.”

When I sat down to write the check, my little spoiled blessings (grandchildren) started arguing over whose turn it was to play the video game first. I wonder if they will ever realize how much God has given them? Then I pray again. This time for the salvation of my own babies souls……

Jesus said in Matthew 25: 33 - 40 (KJV) And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, "Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me."

Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, "Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?"

And the King shall answer and say unto them, "Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."

Please, be a sheep.


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This article has been read 1439 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Barbie Jones
06/15/06
I ate dirt as a child, but only because I was playing with it. Thank God that I did not HAVE to eat it to survive. Upon first glance at your title I thought your story would be humorous, instead it was soul stirring. God bless you for writing this. We not only must be sheep, but feed his sheep and lambs.
Amy Nicholson
06/16/06
I'm crying. This was so touching. The first part of this story is excellent. It fell off a little at the end, but I was already crying. Nice work.
Sherril Wendling
06/18/06
Powerful writing! You draw the reader in beautifully as you describe the breaking of your own heart. Well-developed, flowing, and excellent, strong, opening and closing. May God use your pen mightily to move us all toward His heart!
Valerie Routhieaux
06/18/06
Wow! I can easily see the images you portray, and my heart melts for the little boy who eats dirt.

Don't stop writing. This was very good. Well written.
George Parler 
06/18/06
Heart touching story. Nice job.
Steve Uppendahl
06/19/06
Beautiful job. I agree with Amy's comment that the end seemed a bit off, as if you ran out of steam.

But, wow, the opening is outstanding. You wrote about something that affects us all. Very well done.
Venice Kichura
06/20/06
Yes, very heartwarming story!
Helen Paynter
06/21/06
Beautiful piece - one of my favourites. Well done.
Trina Courtenay
06/22/06
A very stirring story indeed. Keep writing for the glory of God!

Congrats on being highly commended.

Trina<><
Sherril Wendling
06/22/06
Congratulations, Julia! You already know I loved this piece. Hooray! You're on a roll, girl!
Marilee Alvey
06/22/06
Your writing shames me. It shames me for what I haven't done with my writing (stir others to action) and it also shames me for my own abundance. God knows when a sparrow falls. How can he look at this child eating dirt and me going out to lunch with friends at the same time and question my faith? It scares me. Truth be known, I should cash in all of this excess and get going on the mission field, yet, like the rich man, I hesitate and turn my back. It's not that I don't do some good things for the Kingdom. I do. However, after your piece, I cannot be lulled into a sense of false security. Yes, we will always have the poor, but am I doing anything OUT OF MY EXCESS to ease their discomfort? Ouch....but thank you!