What Can I Do?

A church newsletter brings me
the latest news of the suffering of my world:
Thirty-five million people worldwide have Aids;
Thirteen million orphans in Africa,
Refugees fleeing Burma
Phnom Penh, Cambodia littered with handicapped, orphaned, homeless - survival of the fittest is the law of the land
Mozambique calls for mercy; there're famine, floods.
The list goes on and on. What can I do?

The phone rings. Could I tutor a little boy to help him get ready for third grade, in math and reading? His mother doesn't like him, the teacher says. Sure, I can do that, with God's help, that is. I've never done it before.

The phone rings. A new family in our church with six children have had no food today. The children are hungry. Could I please bring them something to eat. Sure. What would you like me to bring? I make a list.
What about breakfast. Shall I bring cereal and milk?
They live five miles away. I buy the groceries and deliver the food. It is the family of the little boy I tutor.
They promise to be at church Sunday.
What can I do to relieve the suffering in my world? I can do what God sends me to do. I can teach a little boy. I can take the family food. I can show love. And I can trust God to take what I can do in my small world to help relieve the suffering of the world.