T: Is for thoughts at Christmas

As 2.1 billion Christians in our world prepare to celebrate the birth of the most famous baby in history, I hope that all children find a place in our hearts and at our tables of plenty. At a time when the gap between rich and poor in our nation and the world is at its widest, an economic chasm driven by the greed of a few has jeopardized the lives and economic security of us all. I hope we will all raise a mighty voice to reset our nation’s moral and economic compass.

God help us to end poverty in our time:

The poverty of a child with too little to eat and no place to sleep, no air, sunlight and space to breathe.

The poverty of knowing a child suffers and not knowing what to do or how to get help because you don’t have a car or health insurance.

The poverty of working your fingers to the bone every day taking care of someone else’s children and neglecting your own, and still not being able to pay your bills.

The poverty of having a job that does not let you afford a stable place to live and being terrified you’ll become homeless.

The poverty of losing your job because you cannot find reliable child care or transportation to work.

The poverty of working all your life caring for others and having to start all over again caring for the grandchildren you love.

The poverty of having too much and sharing too little and having the burden of nothing to carry.

The poverty of convenient deaf, dumb and blindness leading to indifference to others.

The poverty of believing in nothing, standing for nothing, sharing nothing, sacrificing nothing, struggling for nothing.

The poverty of greed for more and more and more, ignoring, blaming and exploiting the needy, and taking from the weak to please the strong.

The poverty of fear that keeps you from doing the thing you think is right.
The poverty of despair and cynicism.

God help us end poverty in our time and make it a F.A.C.T.