Lightening Heavy Burdens

It never ceases to amaze me to hear the story of one of the children helped by Oikos.  When I look back on my life and see the difficulties and challenges I have had to overcome, they seem like nothing compared to what these kids have been through.  And their most painful and hard to overcome experiences seem to be rooted in their families, particularly their mothers.

When I think about mothers, I usually pull from my own experience... I think of my mother.  While not perfect, as none of us are, my mother has always been and is our biggest supporter.  When we are challenged and hurting, she is too and can often not sleep for trying to find a solution for us.  When we are happy and have reached a high point in our lives, no one is happier for us than she.  She is always there for us, praying for us, helping us, and , along with my father, always there with open arms to welcome and accept us.  I know we have had differences of opinions, arguments, and difficult times... all a part of growing pains, but even through those times, I always knew she loved me.

Many of the children here have no mother, and one of the major causes of that is abandonment.  They left the barrio to find a job in the city and never returned or attempted communication.  It stifles the growth of these kids.  Even the ones in college have a harder time than the others because those feelings of abandonment are always with them.  There is no solid foundation for these kids to take root in and grow.  And, probably for some of them, they may think they were the cause of the mother leaving. 

But it is not just that, not just maternal abandonment.  In some cases both parents let go of the children they made together as their marriage falls apart and they enter into new marriages and new families, not wanting memories of the failed one around.  For some of these kids, their parents have died and they were left in the care of a grandparent or other relative. 

These children carry the burden of their family situation around with them.  It always seems to be a cloud over them.  There are many children here whose families are intact and love them very much as well.  However, poverty creates a harsh environment and can be brutally cruel.  As these kids try to combat poverty and pull themselves out of the cycle, they get lost often, and the decisions made while struggling aren't always the right ones.  I am not saying this standing in judgment of them, for I am the least person on the planet who should judge others.  Rather, I want to explain the heaviness they carry around with them, much, much more than I ever had to carry, which makes their struggle even more difficult to overcome.

As I talk to them, one ray of light usually shines within all of the muck they hold, and that is Oikos.  These sisters are creating a new foundation for these kids.  One of stability, love, prayer and generosity.  Not only are they being helped, but the fact that all of the kids take an active part in the mission and in helping other people trapped by the cage of poverty gives them the added benefit of being able to immediately pay back the kindness and generosity of the Oikos Sisters and share it with others.  It still isn't easy, the path still isn't clear, just as it isn't for any of us.  These kids still have Mt. Everest to face as they continue on their education and becoming adults themselves, and it is difficult for them to release the emotional burdens they carry.  But they know they have the rock solid support of Oikos behind them, and are learning to trust in God, learning to pray to Him and to find rest in Him.

Once again, I find myself the recipient of untold blessings from God.  It makes me all the more determined to give what I have to others.  As I give thanks and celebrate my mother's birthday today far away from her, I ask God to bless her and keep her in His loving grace.  It's too bad that I can't bring all of these kids home to experience the love of a mother who takes her job to heart and loves without ceasing.  I mean, she has 8 kids, what's 35 more???  But I can share with them her love through me, and while it's not the genuine article, it's the best I can do... and that's all God asks of any of us.

Happy Birthday, Mom... Love you!!  xxoo