Janey's News

Saturday July 8th

It is a scorching hot day. And it reminds me of France in August, or Africa and India anytime—except that the latter two are more humid in climate. I miss all these places, and particularly miss the precious children who are so hungry to be loved.

I’m always amazed at how crucial love is. It is vital to those who are suffering. Mother Teresa understood that. She is my example. Over the years, I’ve had the joy of helping many suffering children find homes, find help, find love. I pray God gives me the strength to continue doing this always. (www.orphansfirst.org) Recently, a living analogy of the precariousness of street life moved in—literally. After hearing a pathetic little cry from my window, I went in quest of what I was sure was a kitten. It was! Right in the neighbor’s yard. And nearby were her three siblings. Momcat was looking for a new place for them all, probably to protect them from the barking dog and the neighbor’s children.

So, what did I do? Since I’d already been feeding the mother cat, and her brother (who’s also the babies’ father), I decided to bring the whole clan over and nestled them into a corner of the shed. Four tiny kittens about 22 days (my guess). A hungry family of six now living in my yard—to the disgust of my two cats since I now can’t let them out until the kittens leave. Needless to say, I’m seeking good homes for the kitties.

What strikes a chord in my heart every day is how vulnerable these creatures are. And as I blogged previously, food alone doesn’t satisfy their needs. The felines crave caresses. I’ve actually held the cats in my arms yet they’re still leery when there’s a lot of noise. But they are so transformed since a few months ago when they were mangy and scrawny. Now their coats look better and they lie in my yard purring under the sun. At home.

But this does not negate that they need daily food, and daily love. And they all need real homes. But more important still are the millions of children who live in fear, hunger and neglect—and whose greatest need is to belong, to be loved. This need aches in my heart. All children deserve a good home. None deserve to suffer and be abandoned. So my question today is: What can we do to make a difference for them? Prayer is a start. If you’re interested in becoming a prayer partner, check out my website or email me.

On another note altogether – sorta unrelated – because life is so painful, we all love stories. Good stories are salutary to all of us, especially children. One of my favorite forms of story is fantasy. I love C.S. Lewis’ writings and especially love Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. But today there are Christian writers exploring this genre with great success. Donita Paul is one such writer delighting the reader with wholesome values woven into fantasy. Check out her books: http://www.dragonkeeper.us/books/dragonknight/main.shtml

Thank you for caring for the hurting in this world. May our God help us do more—in His strength and with His heart.