What Good is Perspective Anyway?

I decided I'm tired of getting perspective. How's that for an offensive statement. As I sit down to write this blog I realize that my last blog was pretty much about this very same thing...hmm...perhaps this appearance of a theme is, in fact, something with a bigger purpose than fleeting thoughts and feeling helpless and frustrated.

This past Friday I was part of 'Beauty Night' at our church - an incredible event, unlike anything we've ever done before that was about reaching out to our fellow girls in need - in different situations, different walks of life and all throughout this community. And not just doing a church-y outreach, but truly being WITH them. {This was my beautiful friend Kristie's brain child - she's incredible!} One of the elements of this night was childcare so that the mamas could enjoy some kid-less time. I ended up spending a bit of time helping with kiddo check-in and walking moms back and forth to drop-off their kids. One of the first little ones I came in contact with was a little guy perhaps 3 or 4 who was wearing Winnie the Pooh slippers instead of shoes. And they were worn - like he wore them outside often. Now, I have no context - perhaps he had many pairs of shoes at home and was going through a normal kid phase of just LOVING those slippers and never wanting to take them off. But regardless - I just stood there paralyzed. Earlier that day I had stopped by the downtown Baby Gap store - happened to see a sign saying 'additional 40% of all sale items' and one of the things I had picked up for Abby was a new pair of sandals. So kids shoes were on the brain a bit. Looking back now I should have jumped in my car, ran to Target and picked up some new tennis shoes & socks for this sweet boy, it would have taken all of 15 minutes. But instead I stood there - soaked in some good old perspective, but did nothing.

A girlfriend just forwarded me a website where there are sweet little girls in Ukranian countries just waiting to be adopted but all with mild to severe medical/developmental conditions and concerns. It is heartbreaking just to look at the website. I clicked on the link - read through almost every little girl's profile - took in a healthy dose of perspective, but have done nothing other than to offer a quick prayer as I saw each face.

I continue to not know what to do with my little doses here and there of perspective. Perhaps Aaron and I need to be praying about adoption, perhaps the answer is to contribute financially to this - and other - causes. Perhaps this is God softening my heart and preparing me for something entirely different? I have no clue.

I stumbled upon these verses last month and was reminded of the passage again today...

Proverbs 24:11-12 ~ Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to die; save them as they stagger to their death. Don’t excuse yourself by saying, “Look, we didn’t know.” For God understands all hearts, and he sees you. He who guards your soul knows you knew.~

Here I sit...in my beautiful house, with my perfect daughter sleeping in the next room - who has never once felt unloved, afraid (of anything other than Daddy's monster sounds), unwanted or hungry.

I have a friend who signs his emails 'Be the change you want to see in the world.' I think for now...I'll chew on that, because I just don't think continuing to do nothing is an option.