A Question of Priorities

Do you have pets? I have seven cats I claim responsibility for plus two strays that I feed on a regular basis. No, I did not choose to keep so many cats; I only asked for one. My teenaged daughter smuggled one additional little fur ball into her room. Two came with the house when we moved into my mother-in-law's place after she died. The other three were abandoned as kittens; dumped unwanted on our semi-rural doorstop. I don't really want the expense, but I figure if God is going to send them to me, I should do my best to take care of the little critters.

Other than spaying or neutering, I don't generally take them to the vet. They live or die on their own. I do feed them, pet them, brush them. Currently they consume about one big bag (18 lbs) of cat food a week. That's about $12 a week if I shop at WalMart. Or almost $50 a month.

This is probably more than you ever wanted to know about my cats. And, you are no doubt wondering, why I asked if you have pets. It's quite simple really.

I can still recall the Sunday Dr. henry spoke to our congregation about his work in India. How widows are left to their own means. How poor children must fend for themselves. How blind people are considered useless and not worth educating. How there were so, so many of them. His words and pictures tore at my heart. But how could I help? I am just one person, far away and the need is so great; it seemed overwhelming, hopeless.

Then he really got my attention. $10 a month could support a widow. $10 a month could send a child to school, provide a meal, basic medical care, and a future. The shame washed over me as I realized I spent more than that on cat food. My cat food budget would send five children to school! Money I spent on cat food could be sending five children to school and giving them the opportunity to live the same kind of life I demand for myself and my own kids. Five children! The tears rolled down my cheeks. How could I spend money on cats and not on kids?

That very day, my family and I decided we would find some way to support these widows and kids.

With today's devaluating dollar, India's inflation, and the world-wide financial mess, it now takes more than $10 a month to sponsor a widow or child. But, it still takes less than I spend on cat food!

So, if you have a pet, think about this: When you stand before God and He asks you to explain why you didn't help when you had the chance, do you really want to tell the Creator of the Universe you just didn't have the money because you had to buy pet food, flea repellant, and grooming supplies?

It's not that I want to make you feel guilty. (I do love and enjoy my cats.) It's just that we (as Americans) have so much, spend so much, waste so much and are so utterly unaware of how much material wealth we truly have.

Your spare change can make all the difference in the world to a Christian widow in India. Your latte money can provide a hopeful future for a poor Christian child. Maybe your budget can't stretch much further. But can it stretch $20, $15, or $10 a month, even $5 a month? It's not a drop in the bucket--it's someone's life. So, I beg you, save one, please!