I attacked my household chores yesterday. My house was pitiful. Now I only need one room to clean and organize. It is difficult when you come back, your husband has been home alone, and you have your regular work plus organizing two suitcases of stuff you brought back. I like getting the stuff but not really creating homes for all the stuff. Anyway.
As I was cleaning my office/pantry, I began preparing my girls bags. Nixon went grocery shopping during my time away and he got a few things we needed plus bought our monthly amount of groceries for our "ladies". Nixon and I buy a certain amount of groceries for Lucette's family and Madam Jan's family on a monthly basis. We do this to help them, to bless them. Nixon and I talked about it yesterday. Nixon questioned whether we are doing the right thing. Both these women have children but they also have "husbands". "Are we taking the sense of responsibility away from these "kings of the domain"? In a sense I believe we are. But even when we are not helping these ladies, meeting the families needs does not seem to press their husbands urgency to "step up".
Haiti is filled with this problem. It seems women here are expected to do the nurturing,cooking, cleaning and also do the providing.
How about when women have 3 or 4 children and they want to give away their children to local orphanages? Does this truly help them or does it rid them of their responsibility? Does it rob them of the lessons of life? Does it minimize the impression of "cause and effect", of "action and consequence"? Where does the helping end and the crippling begin? Do we sometimes start a "dependence" mentality. Is it possible that we sometimes take away Haitian's ability to think, make decisions, or provide for themselves? Scarry.
This is just another line of thought that increases my urgency to run to the Lord in prayer and truly make sure that we are doing God's work, according to His knowledge and wisdom, ....not our own.
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2 comments:
Yes you are helping. You are making the life of the people you help out a little easier. You are making a difference it is just sometimes hard to see the result!Do not give up or be discouraged but be encouraged by the Power of the One!
Those are all really good questions. We have the same problem in America that enables generations to grow up in the welfare system with a sense of entitlement.Girls getting pregnant in order to get larger checks each month. But there are people with real needs who must be cared for. Where do you draw the line. In the church we are to care for the widows and orphans. But we are also told if a man does not work then he does not eat. It is a hard call but I believe that God will give you the grace to make the decisions that you must make.
I love your blogs and being able to get inside your head...
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