Recently I came across a video on Facebook that showed refugees landing on the Grecian shore. There has been a lot of debate about whether or not to help these people in need. I’ve always been firmly on the side of helping them but watching this video snapped something inside of me. And now I get angry that the debate is whether to help these people, but how can we help them. How can we help them and how can we do it immediately.
Because I watch these boats arrive on a cold, rocky shore. And there are these people–these children–that are cold and wet, and they shiver and they cry. And I can’t tell if I’m more heartbroken at the look in the eyes of the children, because I see my children in those eyes, or if I am more heartbroken by the look in their parents’ eyes because I can see and understand the desperation. When I watched this video for the first time I sobbed uncontrollably and my husband wanted to know what was wrong, but I couldn’t tell him because every time I opened my mouth a wail came out. The babies. We have to help them.
I don’t want to talk any more about whether we should be helping refugees. Because I am a follower of Christ, and I have worked my whole life to do as He would do and love as He would love. This conversation about whether to help people in need makes no sense to me. The answer is obvious. So painfully obvious. WE TAKE THEM IN.
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.
How can I possibly sit in the comfort of my home and surround myself with all the things that meet my family’s needs and wants and debate this issue. What kind of Christian would I be? And it isn’t just these refugees showing up on the shores of Greece. There are families around the world–so many children–that want for basic necessities. They need food, clothing, and shelter. We are not followers of Christ if we are not helping them.
In that vein, please remember that Rational Faiths is hosting a fundraiser for the Liahona Children’s Foundation. Read more about it here, and please consider carving a donation out of your Christmas budget. Our brothers and sisters need us. Let’s keep the conversation focused on how we can help.
Leah Marie
Leah Marie earned a BA in Political Science, and a Masters in Public Administration. She is currently working towards her PhD in Public Policy. She is wife to an English professor, and mother to 3 beautiful boys.
All posts by Leah Marie
Please try to get the US government to assist more refugees.
About two thirds of the citizens of Syria have had to leave due to war and persecution and most remain as refugees in camps in neighbouring countries, most are in Turkey.
Your neighbour, little Canada, will have welcomed some 50,000 Syrian refugees by the end of 2016. As it stands now, the US, with ten times more people than Canada is taking maybe 10,000.
The World is urging the richest nation on earth to do its fair share. After all, it was the US war agaainst the Iraki people that started the cascade of events leading to war in Syria and the problem of ISIS.
Thank you.
This is so well said.
Spot on, Leah Marie. It’s so sad that we in the US have to debate with idiots like Donald Trump who want to exclude all Muslims just because he’s a xenophobe.