Friday, November 1, 2013

perspective {guest post}

This is a post from my daughter's blog.
She and her family live in Cambodia.
We are so proud of her and the mission in her heart.
I hope it touches you as it did us . . . .

survival mode {perspective}
[perspective: the view from our porch as a thunderstorm rolls in ]


because it seemed that the days had been coming in frantic rushes.  there were details to remember, a farewell party to coordinate, daniel's show going late, late, late cutting into precious sleep, arranging babysitters, a saturday board meeting to chair.  round & round she goes.

& i sat in the tuk tuk & exhaled deeply. mind racing, i thought:

"we've been living in survival mode ever since cedar was born.  when will it end?"

& then i remembered.

i remembered the woman with the recycling cart & her newborn slung in a scarf between the bars that she pushed, walking the streets asking for others' trash., unable to rest - where was her maternity leave?

i remembered the boys huddled at the bus stop sniffing the glue bottle.  so young & beautiful & already longing to be numb.

i remembered our own ming kohm & how she had to leave her tiny daughters to go work in the rice fields.  how she heard their cries when a neighbor lied & told them that she was never returning.  how she showed me how she would bind her breasts so she could go the whole day without feeding her baby.

i looked down & remembered that the coffee i was drinking as i whizzed through the city costs the daily wage of the construction workers i watch from my kitchen window.

 oh, right. 

i have never, not ever, known what it is like to live in survival mode.

sometimes perspective is like a swift slap to the face. 
 [but the good kind, like the kind that snaps you out of navel gazing & jolts you into gratitude]


3 comments:

lindsey said...

This post brings us down to reality, to understand that our lives are so privileged in comparison to those your daughter serves in Cambodia (& mine serves in SA) it also prompts me to lift to Gods heavenly throne room, those who's lives are a constant struggle just to survive. Thank you for sharing.

Kris said...

You daughter is very wise. I am sure she has taught many people, and learned even more from those she has served. What an experience! It truly takes very special people to be so giving of themselves. You must be very proud!
XO Kris

Debbie said...

I too am so thankful for your daughter's ministry to the people of Cambodia. What a sad history they have and how much they need the light of Christ to shine there through people like your precious daughter. Her post lifted me this morning and reminded me to be greatful. God bless her and her family, and you, because I know what it's like to have them so far away!
Hugs friend,Debbie