One
day, I was driving from New Jersey to New York, my journey was one and
half hour instead of forty-five minutes. Traffic caused ‘Go-Slow’ on the
road, since I didn’t want to get sleepy, I started listening to music. I
decided to listen to the late Lucky Dube song’s “Crazy World.” The part
of the song that caused me so emotional was “I pray the Lord my soul to
keep, and if I die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take….” As
a Philanthropist, seeks to promote the welfare of others, especially by
the generous donation of money to good causes, I link the song to my
story as a Philanthropist. Yes, we are living in a crazy world!
Christmas is here, have you thought of the orphans, widows, and the
needy? Our leaders are spending money on things that will win them
political powers, neglecting the orphans. Who will buy them dresses,
shoes, food, and basic things they need? How are they going to spend the
Christmas?
God’s
heart for the orphan is clearly displayed throughout the Good Book. God
is the great protector and loving Father of all children living as
orphans. In Psalm 68:5 says, “Father of the fatherless and protector of
widows, is God in his holy habitation.” Orphans future and destiny
depends on whoever discover them or whoever taking care of them. You
must love them same as you love your children. Live for them! They
didn’t choose their situation; they wish they have their parents with
them. Cast your mind back and look around you, ask yourself “so this how
my children will go through…. if one day I’m not in this crazy world?”
Most orphans go through rape, abuse, neglection, and sad part is lack of
education. Family members of these orphans are the main culprits who
neglect these innocent children. These orphans are humans like you and
I, if someone in your family is late, and he or she left behind
children, don’t mistreat them. Mistreatment of an orphan makes them
become aggressive and stubborn. Growing in a hustle life influence them
to become arm robbers, prostitution, and even join a gang.
I
encountered many orphans who are naturally academically good, but due
to lack of support they ended up in a situation they don’t deserve. A
friend of mine told me a story about his friend he went to the same High
School with. He said, “my buddy was academically good…he was loved by
all the teachers.” After WASSE, the friend had an aggregate 6 and he got
admission to KNUST to study Medicine but due to lack of support he
ended up being a High School graduate. His natural God gift talent has
been killed, now he is a peasant farmer. I believe if his parents would
have been alive, they would have done everything possible for their son
to get into his medicine program. Orphans never ask God to give them
situation like this….as you are mistreating orphans, remember there is a
natural law called Karma. Note; when an orphan cry and mention his or
her dead parents, remember that, it is a curse upon you and your
children. And when they laugh and bless you for your kind heart towards
them, remember it is a God’s Blessing to you. The government should give
scholarships and free education to these orphans. They need government
support and protection. The individuals too have a responsibility
towards these orphans. You don’t need to be rich to help orphans, the
little you have is a Blessing to them.
All
children living as orphans deserve justice. In Deuteronomy 10:18 says,
“He ensures that orphans and widows receive justice. He shows love to
the foreigners living among you and gives them food and clothing.” There
are so many vocational schools the government can establish, or the
already existence ones, they can assist the orphans to learn vocational
jobs. This will create more jobs opportunity for them. Not everyone is
good at academic, some are good at vocational skills. Hairdressing,
carpentry, mechanics, etc. providing these trainings for them will even
solve unemployment situation. Whenever I see someone or a family member
hating orphans, I compare the person wickedness to ‘death’. God
blessings are upon orphans, so why the hate? I have a neighbor in Accra,
his sister died and left behind a beautiful daughter. The orphan girl
never saw her mother since she was born, the mother died through birth.
The uncle adopted the poor innocent as his daughter, at her early teen
age, things became worse for this poor girl. The wife of the uncle hated
her so much even till date, the hate is still there. The Blessing of
God have opened a way for the orphan girl, she has become the family
head. Thought of it, the uncle and his would have learned lesson from
their mistreatment, yet they still hating the orphan girl, now a young
woman. Remember, the more you hate orphans the more God’s Grace and
Blessings are upon them.
God
cares about our attitudes toward and actions regarding orphans and
widows. In Exodus 22:22 God says, “Do not take advantage of a widow or
an orphan.” The main difficulties orphans go through a lot in Ghana are;
shelter, school fees and equipment, food, bedding, clothing, medical
care and provision of care to younger siblings. These are the basic
needs these orphans want, Ghana government should give them free
education, and clothes. Across all the sixteen regions in Ghana, 45% of
the households assisting orphans lacked money for schooling compared to
15% of those with no orphans to help. As a Philanthropist, I have
visited most of the regions, and I can conclude that, school attendance
was lower for orphans. Uncles, Aunts, Brothers, and Sisters has
neglected their responsibilities and grandparents are rather found to
provide much of the orphan care in Africa. Orphans girls are victims of
rape and sexual harassment, the dramatic increase of AIDS is among these
orphans. How can we prevent this? Orphanages and NGOs provide direct
support for the basic needs and school fees for orphans. Such group one
example is, Stacy Foundation.
Stacy
Foundation main goal is to provide; vocational skills, clothes,
shelter, and food to the orphans and widows. This year Christmas, the
Foundation went to all the 16 regions, assisting widows, orphans, and
the needy for vocational careers. One of my adventurous day, I decided
to take trotro. While the drive and his mate was waiting for more
passengers, I have witnessed a conversation between two strangers in the
trotro, one lady was telling her friend that, for her she has struggled
a lot achieving her aim. So, she is not going to help any of her
family….“they should also struggle like how I did.” I don’t think that
mentality is fair, because you suffered, you want someone too to suffer
or struggle like how you did. Have you ever thought of how God can make
one person a Savior in the family or to the entire society? It takes one
person to break the poverty lineage in the family, so your suffering or
struggling is a testimony to the family. Philippians 2:3-4 says, “Do
nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more
significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own
interests, but also to the interests of others.” The Apostle Paul is
advising us, to have the same mindset as God when relating to others
(the others can be anybody you encountered, especially widows and
orphans), and he details just how humble God is. we should not let our
actions be motivated by selfishness, pride, or one-upmanship.
Orphans
always feel hopeless, lost, angry, hungry, cheated, and it seems like
God has betrayed them on purpose. Why must even these happen to these
orphans? Sometimes I want to even cry my heart out and punch a wall at
the same time. The wickedness of some people towards orphans is uncalled
for. In Genesis 12:2 says, “I will bless you so you will be a
blessing.” This means, God blesses us so we can bless others. The salary
you earn, the work you do, and the gifts you have been receiving (from
friends, managers, co-workers) are not meant for our comfort and
security, but instead use it to better serve those in need. I remembered
I went to Penn Train Station in Newark, New Jersey and I met the
homeless, I gave them food, snacks, and money. It was so emotional and
at the same time I was happy when they were Blessing me. I felt blessed
that morning. You don’t have to be rich to be a blessing to others.
Being a teacher, doctor, lawyer, engineer, accountant, manager, etc. is
not you’re only calling, those are not only the ways you serve your
community but also the means God has given to provide his mercy and love
to orphans and widows. Our time, money, and resources should not only
spend our own pleasure and comfort but the orphans and widows also.
Providing for the orphans, widows, homeless, and those in need is not
about sympathy for their condition, it is also sharing the gifts we were
given when God had mercy for our condition.
The
number of orphan children in Africa has increased, while the number of
orphanages has not. You can be a volunteer of help, and I can also be a
volunteer of help. If you cannot be a volunteer due to your work and
busy schedules, just research and support organizations that work to
keep widows and orphans together. Research and donate the little you
have to Charity Foundations that support orphans and widows. God Bless
you and your family, your work, and your finances for reading this
article and the heart you have for orphans and widows. King David wrote
that, he has never seen the righteous or any of his generation begging
for food. I stand on this promise, Heavenly Father will Bless you like
King David…. Amen!
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