My last blog was about seeing the good in others. Having spent this past week on a Mission Trip to Honduras, my eyes were opened up to a follow-up on this idea.
Our team visited seven under-developed colonies near Progresso, Honduras. The people were very materially poor and had no modern conveniences. Yet they were for the most part ‘HAPPY’ people and very ‘THANKFUL’ for the food and used clothes that we gave them. A bilingual teacher at one of the colonies told me that she takes vacation specifically to come home from the school that she teaches at because a WCN (World Compassion Network) Team like ours only comes once a year and it is the highlight of their year.
As we returned from Honduras and I reflected on the trip, a big question kept rolling around in my head. The Honduran mountain people probably are among the materially poorest people in the world, yet they are very happy and extremely thankful for any blessings that they receive. Then upon returning to the States I see a people that are virtually in need of nothing but are neither happy nor thankful for what they have.
WHAT’S WRONG WITH THE PICTURE? My intent is not to try to cause guilt but rather write something that is thought provoking. While I’m not saying that anyone of us would want to trade places with the mountain Hondurans, are there a valuable lessons that we can learn from them? Doesn’t it seem like we Americans would do well to be much more grateful and thankful? Maybe it would be good to exhibit more compassion for the marginalized and those of lesser means as well. Doesn’t a giving heart also typically become a more thankful heart?
Our team visited seven under-developed colonies near Progresso, Honduras. The people were very materially poor and had no modern conveniences. Yet they were for the most part ‘HAPPY’ people and very ‘THANKFUL’ for the food and used clothes that we gave them. A bilingual teacher at one of the colonies told me that she takes vacation specifically to come home from the school that she teaches at because a WCN (World Compassion Network) Team like ours only comes once a year and it is the highlight of their year.
As we returned from Honduras and I reflected on the trip, a big question kept rolling around in my head. The Honduran mountain people probably are among the materially poorest people in the world, yet they are very happy and extremely thankful for any blessings that they receive. Then upon returning to the States I see a people that are virtually in need of nothing but are neither happy nor thankful for what they have.
WHAT’S WRONG WITH THE PICTURE? My intent is not to try to cause guilt but rather write something that is thought provoking. While I’m not saying that anyone of us would want to trade places with the mountain Hondurans, are there a valuable lessons that we can learn from them? Doesn’t it seem like we Americans would do well to be much more grateful and thankful? Maybe it would be good to exhibit more compassion for the marginalized and those of lesser means as well. Doesn’t a giving heart also typically become a more thankful heart?
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