We're rich.

True Religion from Christian Alliance for Orphans on Vimeo.

I watched this today. Normally, if you asked me if we were rich, I'd say yes! But not with material goods. We are rich because we know God, and he has lovingly accepted us in his family. Because we have a very good marriage. We have children. Family. Friends. Health. Rich indeed. But wealthy, no. We live comfortably, but we have to budget. We have to make hard choices. We can't just buy things at a whim. Sometimes, we can't buy something period. We can't  travel all over. We don't eat out a lot. We shop at the Goodwill. And our life is good, very good. I know that there is great poverty in the many parts of the world. When we adopted Vivian, we explained to our guide, that we didn't want to just see touristy Ch*na.  He took us to a minority village just outside of the city. It was beautiful country, but like something out a movie. People plowing fields with water buffalo. Washing clothes in a dirty creek. A market with meat just lying out in the open air, no refrigeration bugs flying around. Yet, it wasn't a movie. It was real, and heartbreaking. These people welcomed us though, and were so kind. This wasn't unusual,and it wasn't an extremely rural, isolated village. It was 30 minutes outside a city of 8 + million people. Even in the cities, what is considered fairly middle class, is we would think unbearable. Some of those images are burned in my mind. And yet. I am one of the wealthiest in the world. I'm sitting in a well insulated home, with air conditioning, with food, a clean, comfortable bed and access to great healthcare. I am not unaware that there is a distinct possibility that my three adopted children's first families might have desperately wanted to keep them, but had no means to obtain the heath care that they needed. That they probably made a incredibly unselfish decision to give them up in order to give them a chance. I can't even begin to imagine having to make that kind of choice. It makes me weep.

Comfort. I like to be comfortable. The list of what I "need", it makes me ashamed after I watch this video. I can be doing more. We should be doing more, and really thinking about the gifts God has given to us and how are we using them. I posted this on facebook the other day, but it is so true.