I can not sleep.
Why? Because of a movie my husband I just watched: The Machine Gun Preacher. I recommend you watch this, no matter what faith you may be rooted in, or lack there of. This man, Sam Childers, has given his life to help protect the orphans of the war raging in Uganda and Sudan. It is truly the best movie I have seen in a very long time, because it is real life. A real man making a difference in hundreds of children’s lives.
I can’t begin to relay how many times I cried during this film. To see innocent children slaughtered, sold into slavery, burned alive, beaten, maimed, forced to kill their own parents…the list of atrocities are endless.
Why have I never known about this? Because I didn’t want to know. Because knowing makes my comfort zone that much less comfortable.
I am ashamed.
Part of my childhood was spent in San Diego, CA. It was during a time when I was very fragile. To this day, I refuse to watch the news because of my time spent there. Death. Drugs. Gangs. Violence. It was horrifying to me as a child. And still to this day.
I don’t listen to much that of what goes on in the world today because I feel powerless to stop it. It terrifies me, how depraved some people have become. Where is the hope? Where is the compassion? Where are the hands that should be pulling the needy up for the gutters. They are there, but too many times their stories are not shared. The good is overshadowed by the bad.
There are amazing people, doing amazing things all across the globe. Giving of their time, their money, and their lives to make a difference. I applaud the men and women who fight to protect our country. I applaud the men and women who feed the needy and give blankets to the homeless. To the people who care for orphans and widows. To those hands that reach to help, not hurt.
I am sick of hearing only how bad our world has become. There is good left in this world! And I want to hear about it.
If you, or someone you know, has done something above and beyond to help someone, please share it with me. No act of kindness is too small.
Let’s fill up my page tonight and all of tomorrow with tales of true heroes, those who are not afraid to do what is right.
PS: While looking for an image to use for this blog post, I kept running across “Random Acts of Kindness.” I say, let’s do “Purposeful Act of Kindness.” Pick someone in need and go help them. Let someone know that you care about them today.
Want to know more about the Machine Gun Preachers? Click on the movie image above to link you to the website.
Amy Miles Books 
I love this post!! Have you heard of Rachel’s Challenge? Your challenge to do “Purposeful” acts of kindness is exactly what Rachel’s Challenge is all about. Here’s her website to check it out… http://www.rachelschallenge.org . I am going to have to go watch that movie now. Thanks.
Thanks for sharing the link. I will check it out now!
Wonderful website! Fantastic message. Thanks so much for letting me know about it. I hope others can be touched by Rachel’s story.
/ que tall,, oye de verdad grasiacs por lanzar tu codigo a la comunidad de codigo abierto,, bueno le cuento que me eucneutro desarrollando un blog basandome un poco en el tuyo,, no se si esto rompa con los puntos de GNU o GPL, aunq en el footer especifico muy bn que me base en berriblog, para crear otra versionn,, ps me gustaria que me respodieras si tienes algun in,eivennontee,c,, desde ya muchas gracias por tu atencionnn.Carlos Velandia#4 – por carlos
I love this post. I like how the movie moved you, I like your use of your blog as a platform to spread good news instead of bad, and I like your call to action for Purposeful Acts of Kindness. Well done, Amy.
This isn’t recent, but it’s a story that moved me. A woman I knew was driving home late at night when she saw a dog scamper across the road and cower in the tall grass of the median. Most people (including myself) would have kept driving, but she stopped her car, got out, and approached dog. The dog was small and quite docile, and it was clearly in a lot of pain. Its hair was matted and knotted, almost like dreadlocks, as it hadn’t been washed in a long time. The woman did something else I don’t think I would have had the nerve to do–she picked up the dog, put him in her car, and took him home.
That night she spent hours clipping away the matted hair to release the dog of the pain it was causing. She bathed and fed the dog, and by the end of the night, the dog looked happy for the first time. The woman already had a dog–a fairly territorial one at that–and couldn’t take on another, but she took him to a shelter the following morning, Hopefully he found a good home.
I was really moved by what she did. Sure, they were small gestures for a wee animal, but her compassion made a mark on me.
Thank you so much for sharing this Jamey. I certainly did not limit my suggestion to the two legged kind 🙂
I would like to share with you a project that is currently underway here in my home town. Churches, businesses and individuals are joining together to form a homeless shelter, for families and individuals. A building was graciously donated for this project. Community members have come together to give of their time to help with roofing, cleaning, carpentry and painting projects. Through the combined efforts of our town, mothers will not have to worry about how to feed their children or where they will sleep. We will be providing a safe and secure temporary home for families in need. As well as trying to assist them in getting back on their feet.