Suffer The Little Children

Little Nathan was over last night.  What a joy to hold him in my arms.  He is almost one month old now and starting to take an interest in the world around him.  His eyes are open for much longer periods looking around and trying to make sense of the world.  The surge of love I experienced is beyond description as I cuddled him, amazed again at his tiny hands and fingers and perfect nails.

However, as I looked at his sweet face I saw again in my mind those horrendous newsreel pictures of the famine in the Sudan. Haunting, frustrating because you want to do so much and yet you know that thousands are going to die unless something is done to save them.  I saw again those men scrabbling with their bare hands into the barren soil to dig a grave in which to place the body of a young child as her Mother stood by too shocked to even cry. Then I remembered the newreels of a couple of weeks previously and the report about the growing obesity problem in our own children.

Although Mike and I do not have much (in financial terms) I always give to these appeals.  I get frustrated and angry when I hear others say "Oh, I gave last time", "We have seen it all before", "Why don't those people learn to irrigate their crops and feed themselves."  The truth is that they do.  But these are people driven out through the oppression of others who wanted their land. Women who watched their menfolk murdered and were then repeatedly raped.  Children who had to witness the death of their parents.  Above all it is the children, innocent victims in matters beyond their comprehension or control. Children who could grow up to be wonderful people who lead or help in their communities.  Children  who will never get the chance because their lives are being squandered for lack of the bare necessities of life.  How easy it is for us - if we are hungry we go to the kitchen and get ourselves something to eat.  If we are cold we turn on the heating, if we are sick medicine is readily available.  These children have nothing.  There is no food.  I looked aghast at the dying horse, the rotting animal carcasses, the women sitting hopefully holding out bowls for food.  There was none. They had fled hatred and violence only to end up in camps with only three nurses to tend thousands and no food todistribute.

I hugged little Nathan to me tighter and as I felt his downy hair against my face and neck, I thanked my lucky stars that I live in the Northern Hemisphere. He gazed up at my face, not yet old enough to know that I am his Grandmother but somehow sensing that he was safe and secure with me and trusting that I would let no harm befall him.  Those dying babies look at their Mothers in the same way.

And as I held him I thought how I would feel if this incredible, precious little bundle slowly starved to death before my eyes and I could do nothing, knowing that neither my love, hope or faith could save him. Well, hundreds of Mothers, Grandmothers and Fathers are facing that right THIS minute knowing they will have to place their  beloved dead children in shallow graves in the early morning light and hundreds more will face it tomorrow and the day after and............

As I have been writing this I have also reflected that I am sharing these thoughts with you on a computer.  How much did that computer cost, ah yes, I remember.  Still not exactly cheap are they?  How much did yours cost?  Did you know that the cost of a computer can feed one such family in the Sudan for over one whole year!!!!!

There is an old saying that "Charity begins at home".  I have never believed this, dear readers - no to me Charity begins in the heart, Charity begins in the soul.

Surely, we who have so much, can spare a little?