An Apple a Day,....Could Save a Child's Life

This morning, like every morning, I had my two slices of toast and an apple for breakfast.  My favorite apple in the whole world is Honey Crisp.  It is exactly what its name describes - crispy, juicy, and sweet.  Honey Crisp apples have become very popular; and when something in North America becomes popular, it becomes more expensive.  They are a fairly large apple, and priced according to their weight.  So a good size Honey Crisp is over $2.00 each.

As I was savouring each bite of my apple this morning my mind was on poor starving children in the Horn of Africa.  I got to thinking: if I was willing to give up my Honey Crisp apple, (and maybe buy a cheaper apple to eat each morning), and give its equivalent to support a starving child, I would actually give around $60.00 a month.  Wow!  Sacrificing one little luxury can accomplish so much!

I read somewhere that it is by far more difficult to give out of one's wealth than it is to give out of one's poverty.  I think that thought finds its meaning in the story of the rich man who asked Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life; and after some discussion Jesus said, "Go and sell all that you have and give the proceeds to the poor."  Of course, the rich ruler could not do it because he could only see his possessions in terms of wealth.  He could not however see the real poverty of his own life.

Wealth in North America is an evil master which has no sympathy for the suffering of the world.  It gives one a false sense of security (or insecurity) that makes you obsessive about what you believe to be rightfully yours: money and things.  As a nation and a continent we will actually go to war and fight other nations to protect our wealthy ways of life.  It is sad to say that this is often at the expense of the poor and starving of the world.

How can a $2.00 apple be more important than a child's empty stomach?  The sacrifice seems so small, and could potentially accomplish so much.

The greatest gift ever given was given on the very first Christmas.  That gift of course is Jesus Christ.  He is literally the gift of life.  We can be the gift of life as well.  How far are you willing to go to make a sacrifice that could potentially save a child's life?

Blessings,

-Leo