One Word: Color

On Monday, Compassion sent me an email with the inspiration for this week's Blog Month topic. It said to post on one of the following words: Hope, Poverty, Silence, Sacrifice.

After thinking about it for 3 days, not one of those words was opening doors in my mind. I just could not think of something good to write about.

Then today, I overheard somebody near me say to a friend, "I encourage my child not to notice or acknowledge skin color."

And look, I know that this mother is trying to be politically correct and raise her child to be somebody that does not judge somebody based on the color of their skin. But when I thought about her comment of encouraging her child not to notice it, all I could think was, "That's a shame." 

Because...well...I love skin color. Have you ever looked around and noticed how many different skin tones there are? It's amazing! I like to look at skin tones and then think of things in my life that I love that are the same color as that skin tone.

There's skin so dark that my mind wanders to dark chocolate, shots of espresso, and beautifully clear nighttime skies.

There's skin that makes me think of creamy milk chocolate, baking brownies, and making mud pies as a child.

There's the beautiful skin tones that make me think of good things to eat. Things like toffee, pecans, and hazelnuts. 

There are shades that remind me of creamy caramel, brown sugar, and fresh baked banana bread. 

There are skin tones that awaken my senses and make me think of various spices that I use in the kitchen. I'm reminded of cinnamon, ginger, cumin, and curry powder. 

As the color of skin gets lighter, my mind wanders still. I think of peaches and cream on a hot summer day, waving wheat fields, and freshly baked bread right from the oven. 

Then, there is skin so fair, that I can't help but think of things like soft cotton, undyed taffy, white sandy beaches, porcelain dolls, and big fluffy clouds. 

And guess what, you guys?! God has created each and every single one of these skin colors and he has put them on each and every one of his precious children. 

Don't you think that's remarkable? 

His beautiful creations live all of our world and so many of these precious children need your help. For only $38 a month, you can sponsor one of these colorful children. This money provides them with good food, clean water, quality education, healthcare, and teachings about Jesus. Even more importantly, you are able to write these children letters. Tell them how much you love them, tell them they are important, they matter, and that God has created them (and their beautiful skin color) to be unique and perfect.

I want you to visit Compassion International's Page and choose a child to sponsor. You will not regret it for even one second. 

You will see a big array of beautiful colors on that page, ranging from espresso to hazelnut, from caramel to white sand. 

Each created in God's image. Each beautiful and needing love. 

Please make a difference in the life of a child today.