A Tale of Two Mothers

There’s an old saying that goes... “There are two sides to every story.” 

Mother’s Day is next Sunday and I have a story to tell you about two mothers - living on opposite sides in a true tale about poverty.

The first mother lives a few miles from me and is my close friend.  We were out shopping together last week.  The stores were full of things with signs suggesting you buy them as gifts for Mother’s Day.  My friend said to me, “I hope my kids don’t get me any more knick knacks.  I have way too much stuff already!”  She has been an “empty nest” Mom for quite a few years and she is ready to down-size to a smaller house.  She really doesn’t want gifts of “stuff”!  She’s living with the ‘poverty of excess’.

The second mother is one who lives a few thousand miles from me and I don’t know her well at all, but I will never forget her.  When I was in Haiti on a Compassion International tour, I was with a group of people who visited her home.  When this mother of twin toddler boys was asked what a typical day is like for her, she answered “If it is a good day, we have something to eat.”  Can you imagine not knowing if you will have food for your children?  This mother is one of ‘poorest of the poor’.   

Read more about her story here

Both of these Moms have something in common.  Poverty.  Yes, the first Mom is suffering from the ‘poverty of excess’ and the second one is suffering from the ‘poverty of not enough’.  Of course, the second is a much more of serious problem than the first.  She doesn’t know if she will have food to feed her children and herself.  She lives in an barely habitable shack without running water or any kind of plumbing.  I’m sure she can’t even imagine having “too much stuff” ... just as it’s very hard for us to imagine living like she does, without what we consider the basic necessities of life.

Clean water available at the Compassion Project Center nearby

I have an answer to help to solve the kinds of problems these and other mothers like them are facing.

This Mother’s Day, the children of those who are dealing with the ‘poverty of excess’ could -- instead of buying your mother another unwanted knick-knack --make a gift in her honor to the Child Survival Program, to the Highly Vulnerable Children's Fund, or to the Water of Life Program.  Perhaps you could even sponsor a child in honor of your mother (one of those gifts that “keeps on giving!”).  

Mothers (and one father!) with their children in the Child Survival Program in Haiti

I think a gift like this would be a blessing to any mother who already has "too much stuff"!  (Speaking as a mother myself) I also know it would truly bless a mother living in need.  A few clicks to donate, then write a note in a pretty card to tell your mother about your gift.  Of course... on Mother's Day, also be sure to tell her how much she means to you and how much you love her!