Enjoying being a foster dad: Welcome me to the club of child sponsors

Posted on December 24, 2009
Filed Under Blogging, General, Religion | 5 Comments

Being in India you cannot miss the sight of poverty-stricken scrawny children scavenging around. Almost everyday I see them. Either begging, stealing or mobbing readying for a rampage. The sight sure has a morose effect on me and I can’t turn a blind eye. Our father of the nation had once called “poverty the worst form of violence”. This scantiness has paralyzed the lives of millions of children in India. If you dint know, 15 million children live as bonded child labourers; 18 million children live on the streets, homeless and without hope; 2 million children do not live to see their first birthday; 500,000 children are forced into child prostitution; 100 million children in India between 6 and 14 years of age are out of school and at high risk for becoming child labourers or criminals.

Costlier-than-diamond smile

Costlier-than-diamond smile

As an ardent follower of Jesus and someone who madly, sincerely and deeply love India I heartily and resolutely felt the need to chip in money for the sponsoring of a poor kid to give him his rightful life and education. I finally fulfilled this dream on my birthday. Anybody heard this quote of Winston Churchill? “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” I am overjoyed by the thought that I am able to foster and nurture someone. No one has ever become poor by giving. Or have they? Well, heard of Mother Teresa saying this – “If you can’t feed a hundred people, then just feed one.” That is exactly what I have done. For few guys charity is always in prayer “under construction” waiting for heavenly instructions. And selective others would say, money is not everything. Thinking of this adage? “Money cant buy happiness” Well if it cant BUY happiness, atleast it can RENT it, right?. Lol :D

Everybody loathes being an orphan. Our humanitarian icon said the “most terrible poverty is loneliness, and the feeling of being unloved.” If you are an orphan, poor and uncared you really know what it means to be lost in this world of greed and speed with no one around you. I still can’t fathom the death of my father at a young age and seeing other toddlers being mollycoddled. That life is something you never want. So feeding and educating a child, is a privilege and it surely has made me happy. It is one of the treasures that I am going to forever maintain. The boy whom I am sponsoring is a Hindu by the way, and the cost is not much too. With little money, I am still able to give him a decent education and life.

So Sam, you have a lot of money to sponsor children eh? My bank balance is scary and given my existing quagmire, you would never want to be me. It is ludicrous when people who have money always say they have no money. Till they die, they will recite their problems when pleaded for help. Ever met such type? Even when they get money and even without money they are just the same. One of my favourite verses in Bible is this at 1 John 3 – “Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. I greatly respect people with actions than words. Bible also says in Luke 6 – “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” So remember those who always hold on to “no-money” policy, till your life’s end you will be clinging on to it. Looking life in a positive way is sure needed. If you want to help someone, you got to first check if you have the “WILL” and not the “MONEY”. If you have the former, you sure would see success even with ZERO income.

We have been urged by Bible to “Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.” Thanks to many Christian NGOs that have been doing commendable charity works across India emanating the teachings of Christ. One of the most challenging things I faced in my life of sharing the Gospel is “when preaching without practicing.” It makes me guilty. I remember one day stopping half way while speaking because of something that poked me for my failure to follow the same. Ever heard of Swami Vivekananda? I remember a story of him when he was approached by a mother requesting him to instruct her son to not eat too much ladoo (sweet). Vivekananda told the lady to return 2 days later, and refused to discipline the kid the same day. After 2 days the lady came with her son and Vivekananda advised the kid to avoid eating too much of it, and the kid obeyed from the very next day. However, the mom was feeling strange. If Vivekananda could speak to my son and stop him from doing it in just 10 mins, why he took two days? When enquired, she was told that even Vivekananda loves ladoos and in that two days he restricted his addiction and took the courage to instruct the kid. Well, you might find a lot of moral flaws in the story, but somehow I’ve liked what he did.

As I wrap up the year, and look back, my contribution to the society would be ZERO. But, now that I have taken a step to sponsor JITHENDER (born 2005), I can proudly preach/instruct Mathew 5: 41,42 or the need to do CHARITY. Well now dont tell me you are also extremely poor and when you are in need of charity, how can you do the same to others? Such people you know what they call? Ostrich minded. Living in a life full of negativity. Alright, let me not be too philosophical again. All I can say now is that I am extremely happy that I was able to be part of rich donors’ club across the world. I am no philanthropist like Bill Gates, but making a small difference like this story here. If you really want to sponsor, there are websites with plenty information like savethechildren.org, worldvision.org, aryagan.org, childfund.org, gfa.org, etc. Go ahead, and give a future to someone needed.

Let me end my post with this lovely quote from a pioneer museum in Kearney.“The cowards never started/The weak died along the way/Only the strong survived/These were the pioneers.” Came across this in the movie “About Schmidt” – must watch if you want to do some serious charity.

Proverbs 11:24-25
One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.

Goodnite, Happy Holidays! Adios ~ SAM

Comments

5 Responses to “Enjoying being a foster dad: Welcome me to the club of child sponsors”

  1. JJ on December 27th, 2009 5:45 pm

    nice man keep up

  2. Jinumon on December 28th, 2009 3:21 pm

    yes good work Sam

  3. Pastor Albert on December 30th, 2009 6:25 am

    Praise the Lord Sammy. You can do much more. Do not stop dreaming. God understands your heart and will provide all your needs. Let 2010 be a blessing for you.

  4. Vaidya on January 3rd, 2010 4:15 am

    macha great da as always you are an inspiration for us

  5. India Information » Blog Archive » Getting back with my honey after cho long time.. on April 23rd, 2010 4:56 pm

    [...] So as always Ive been thinking on how I can embellish and enlarge my services to the Christian community, for the betterment of the lost, lonely, hurt, broken and needy of this world. A picture I browsed this week left a poignant impact in me thinking of the good things I have in life. Do you see that picture in the left? It is one such picture that questioned my luxuries and the wants of others. There are people out there who have no food, proper clothes and the basic amenities that you and I have.. But here I am thinking..worrying and wasting my time..money on my extra-wants that make me more boastful, arrogant and lazy. It was one such picture of a small kid that made me decide on adopting a child..and being a foster dad (read it here). [...]

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