“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me. Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ – Matthew 25:31-44
In the United States, we have the luxury of mobility. Some people are really disenchanted about this, but opportunities are available to us despite our situation. In mundane life, we have access to large amounts of cold, running water, some of the best food to come out of the industrial and global market, and tons of social benefits that are designed to help us live comfortable and educated lives. It is so easy to take these for granted, as we have been exposed to them consistently as have our parents and their parents. We have the luxury of being able to pack a storage unit with our belongings (things that belong to US) and move to an area that reflects our success and movement through life. In this way, where we live reflects on us, in that it shapes who and what we are, but we also reflect ourselves onto the place where we live.
It’s hard to imagine a life without the convenience of the internet or other superficial amenities like all-natural conditioner and circular, multi-alternating-bristled toothbrushes, but millions and millions of people around the world have much less. It’s easy to say that and think about it, but it is so much more complicated to understand it, because we live in such an advantaged position. This concern and compassion is the reason why The Mobile Attic, in the spirit of giving that is reflected by the holidays, donates a portion of its proceeds to Unto Me International, a non-profit organization that provides opportunities to poverty-stricken children in Nicaragua. Just by renting the storage container and making monthly payments, you are making a difference in the lives of the kids.
These children live a life stored in plastic shelters or containers, looking at the future with optimism. The reality is that the kids have little hope to excel beyond their parent’s station. It is too often that people wait until around the holidays to consider the less fortunate, and some people don’t even consider them then. While we celebrate the prosperity of our culture, these children live in fear of starvation, disease, human trafficking and social structures that will hinder them throughout life’s journey. The holidays shouldn’t just be a time for celebration (but this aspect shouldn’t be devalued), but it should also be a time of self-reflection and thought directed toward others in the world. At the end of the year, the festivities bring families closer together, so why not think about bringing the human family together with compassion?
Donations are always appreciated, but real transformations happen within the heart and mind. If you want to do your part in helping the children of Nicaragua, you can support local business like The Mobile Attic that have partnered with Unto Me International, or you can sponsor a child for as little as $30 a month.
Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving from the Mobile Attic!
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