A Broken Heart

It's 1am one one of those nights where I can't sleep. For a long time now I have been plagued by a broken heart. My heart is broken for every family who doesn't have a Christmas tree. My heart is broken for every parent who doesn't know where their child's next
meal is coming from. My heart breaks for every family that is close to losing their home.
I've realized that while there are all sorts of agencies to help those in need, there are still a lot of people out there who are judgmental of people who are less fortunate. They assume
that it's people's own mistakes that have gotten them where they are. Let's be honest, who ISN'T a few financial mistakes away from hardship? Is it
our job to judge struggling families,
or is it our job to feed the hungry and clothe the naked, no matter how they got there? I must have missed the part in the Bible that we should first decide who is deserving before we give.
For a long time I prayed for Jesus to show me His heart. Now that I have seen it I'm sure I didn't know what I was asking for.
I hate to cry, I hate for other people
to see me cry. Now everything makes me cry. I cry for people I don't even know! I cry when I see a child with a runny nose and no winter coat. I got a
lump in my throat when I heard of an organization who gives dolls to little girls for Christmas; they had a list of 65 little girls and only 3 dolls.
For some reason this Christmas it's hit me extra hard. I am repulsed by how much I have complained over the past year. We don't have money for this, I don't have time for that. Bottom
line, I am BLESSED beyond belief. I have more then enough.
I've been really challenged in the last
few months about how much is enough. And in the past few weeks I think I've found some answers to that.
My heart breaks for the Lord's people who need help, and I know my heart has been broken for a reason. I'm still trying to figure out where this journey of feeling the need to live simply, and give as much as I can, is leading me. But I am so glad that I'm aware now. So, I thank you, Lord, for this broken heart of mine.