A stark reminder of how truly blessed we are has been unfolding in the news over the past couple of days. My heart aches for the suffering that is taking place and tears come easily to my eyes as I consider the way those other mothers must be feeling. Any help I can offer from the security of my warm, safe home seems a drop in the ocean to that that is required to help all these other human beings with the most basic of their needs. That feeling of helplessness when I am shown such terrible disasters must not stop me from getting involved though but inspire me to do whatever I can - no matter how small that contribution. We have decided to show our immediate support through the Disasters Emergency Committee - who are an umbrella group of charities, who will endeavour to get support to those in such urgent need in the ways that will be most useful. While my first instinct as a mother is to protect my children from the horror of what is going on, I decided this morning that they needed to be aware and asked them if they would give some of their own money to the appeal. They both instantly retrieved a five pound note and this was added to what we will donate as a family to those other families. A gesture that I hope they feel as proud of when they grow up as I do of them now.
While what is donated now and the aid that is delivered in these early days is of the utmost importance, I am very aware that it is in the long term that things can go wrong. Once the 'compassion fatigue' comes into our lives or the headlines move on, those individuals will still need our help to rebuild their lives, and communities. I was encouraged to read this post by Amanda Soule, In which she mentions her intention to resume the Mama to Mama project she started last year and I have hope that the wonderful group of women that make up the worldwide community on line, will raise to the challenge of finding creative if not crafty ways to help in the long term.
I am so grateful to be part of that community and definitely intend to make any small drop in the ocean that I do become a huge wave of positivity when joined with the efforts of those of you I now consider my worldwide friends. Please let me know of any other projects that are started in the following weeks and in the mean time I am knitting away hard to support Craft Hope's ongoing appeal, while I consider what to make for their Charity shop. Please visit these links which I am sure will inspire you as much as they have done me. Lets add lots of power to all those little drops!
