My daughter, at four years old, continues to learn daily that things will not always go the way she would like them to go. We are working on helping her to accept that fact without throwing a fit every time things don't go her way.
I've been meaning to post some thoughts on Katrina. So here they are...
Learning, from the media (which I realize is biased), about the effects of hurricane Katrina has caused me to think about what I'm teaching my children. How will they react when life just isn't fair?
We've been blessed with material possessions. My kids have shelter, food, water and plenty of clothes. They have an abundance of toys and hundreds of books. As a parent it is my responsibility to care for my children's physical needs. As a Christian I know that all I have - every good gift - comes from God. I don't deserve any of it. I hope that I can help my children grow to be people who are hard workers and thankful for the good things they have. And that they will be ready to serve and give to others knowing that all we have is from God.
I've been reading
The Light and the Glory (children's edition) to the kids. The other day we read about the founding of Jamestown. After finding that conditions weren't favorable (the area was a swamp) the people choose to stay rather than move to a better location. Because of that choice many of them died.
In a country so large I wonder why people choose to live in places where natural disasters are expected. For instance, New Orleans has experienced devastating hurricanes before and rebuilt. Why? I've been reading the book
Give Me a Break by John Stossel
. In the book Stossel talks about the National Flood insurance program that has sold cheap insurance to people who built in areas that private insurers wouldn't cover (because of the high risk). It seems that at times our government may create more problems than it solves.
I am thankful that I live in the United States and that in our country we have many freedoms and opportunities. But, it concerns me that people are looking to the government to be their savior and at the same time bad-mouthing the government for not doing enough quickly enough.
Bad things happen and life isn't fair.
Our government is not God. The government is not omniscient - knowing all that will happen. The government is not omnipresent - it can't be everywhere at the same time. And it is definitely not omnipotent - it can't control the weather or people's choices. By design our government's power is limited. God may use the government to provide for my needs but He is God and the government isn't.
May God give our president, elected officials and government workers wisdom to deal with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. And may we, the people of the United States, look to God in this time of suffering. Only He is the giver and sustainer of life. And His plan is that we love him and love our neighbors.
