Thanks for reminding me to “get in the game,” to do something…anything…to help the poor, the distressed, and the hurting.

There is a little boy on MY refrigerator that reminds me of that every day. In fact, I think I need to write him a letter…

Keep up the excellent work that you are doing to show mercy and compassion…to our future…our present…our children.

We sponsor a beautiful little girl named Harriet and last week we decided to sponsor another chiild, a gorgeous little boy named Hilary. I wrote a blog about it on my site. This morning I read your blog and posted another blog with a link to your post about sharing.

You inspire me and as I read the comments to my blog a lot of people overhere (The Netherlands).

Thank you so much!

I don’t consider myself a christian. I don’t believe in the bible or prayer. But I do believe in humanity and morality. I believe all people have an obligation to help each other. It offends me as a human being to see someone turn their back on a person in crisis. It offends me as a woman and a mother to see children neglected and starving.

Imagine the how much better the world could be if people worked together alleviate suffering and meet the needs of all people.

Perhaps Compassion would recieve a greater reponse if people could make a one-time donation. Times are tough. I can assure you people feel for this little girl. But I know many people scared for their own well-being — out of jobs, without insurance, behind on bills. Its a much easier to drop a $10 or $20 in a collection plate during a feel-good song than to commit to paying another bill.

I know that your goal when you travel and speak is to save children’s lives, and you have my utmost admiration for that, however, that is not the only way God uses your speaking and singing engagements. Plus the other ways He uses you sets people up to be moved to a place in their lives where they are able to help save children.

In 2007, I left my husband because he was abusive, neglectful, and adulterous for years and years. I decided to grow a back bone and stand up to him. That didn’t go over too well, and the marriage fell apart. I was suddenly a mom with two kids, a part-time job that paid 150.00 bucks every two weeks, and an ancient car that was about to kill-over. We moved in with my mom so we had a place to live and food, for which I am grateful, but the situation was not too cozy feeling. I was overwhelmed. My children were confused, scared and looking to me for direction…I had none, except that I believed in Christ, I wanted a healthier life for my kids and me, and I loved the music of this artist named Shaun Groves.

In October of that year we got a flyer in the mail that you were doing a concert in our town, and it was free. I couldn’t afford much, but I could afford free. That was awesome. Thank you.

I had left my younger child at home, but brought my 9 year old. He was the one most hurt by his father out of my two children because he was the oldest. He was physically abused and emotionally torn to shreds by the things his father would say to him.

My son was so enthused about this concert. He had never been to one before. He was getting some one on one time with me. It was a very nice diversion from our situation we were facing. It was amazing to see him that happy.

He and I listened to you speak between songs and at the end…I hung on every word. Before us was a man who truely loved his wife and his kids, and other kids with so much passion and tenderness. I heard that men like this existed, but I hadn’t experienced it in my personal life, niether had either of my sons. I sat there amazed and thinking, “this guy is for real.”

You might remember this night because it was near your home where you grew up in East Texas. It was at a Cowboy Church, and you teased about being disappointed because there weren’t a lot of people wearing cowboy hats. Your parents were in the audience. But the thing that would probably stand out most in your mind is that your child was very ill that night. You were upset about being there instead of with your wife and child. It was a hard concert for you to perform. I believe you put a picture of your son in the hospital on one of your blog postings. That night was a great sacrifice for you. I want you to rest assured that God used that sacrifice in a huge way for me and my son.

After the concert we got to talk with you a little bit. My son got your autograph. You listened to him talk. His dad would usually yell at my son for trying to speak to him. You looked at my son like what he said mattered. His dad usually wouldn’t even look up at him from the computer screen unless it was to yell at him, then he would turn back to the computer. You had been very concerned about your sick son. My son’s father would get mad at me when I took ours to the Dr., and my son would hear a fight between the two of us over whether or not I could buy him medicine because his father didn’t want me to. His father would not even call to check on him; you couldn’t wait to get to your child.

I had so much emotion stirred up inside me. I wanted to blurt it all out to you. I settled for simply telling you that I had been a fan since your Invitation to Eaves Drop CD, that I listen to it every night, and my favorite song is “Abba Father.” You looked surprised and apologetically pointed out that you didn’t sing that song that night. It was OK. I could hear it every night anyway.

There was so much I wanted to say, but I didn’t want to take up your time, your son was sick, I wasn’t sure what was appropriate to share and what wasn’t, and my son was with me.

I already respected you as an artist. That night I met you as my brother, and I saw good in a man. It was so much good that it obviously came from God. You were God with skin on for us. It helped me get through the next week…month…year…and still even now. I read your blog and listen to your music most days. I need the lyrics you wrote. They help me pray, compel me to keep seeking God, drive me to repentance, aide my expression of love and gratitude to the Lord. God uses you to help keep me going and clinging to Him.

Its been a little over two years. I’m divorced now, and working full time. It is only minimum wage, but it is amazing how the money stretches and stuff gets provided even if the money isn’t there. God has blessed us a great deal in stabilizing us financially and emotionally. We still struggle, but it is so much better than it was before. Right now he is helping me work out my budget and juggle around finances so that I can use what He is giving to us more wisely, and no, we don’t have cable TV. I refuse to pay money for it for multiple reasons. In this budgeting, I’m trying to work in giving to Compassion International. I’ve wanted to since the concert two years ago. My son does, too. There will be alot of budget tweaking comming our way.

That night, what you did mattered. It made an impact. God blessed us through you in ways you didn’t even know. I will be forever grateful.

So, yeah, there will be the guys who check their watches and the girls who text…but there are also people like me and my son. Quietly listening, soaking it in, desperate for more. You may not hear from most of us, but we are there. We may not write a check for Compassion International on the night of the concert, but we need to hear what you say, see how you live your life, receive the healing God has for us, and the check will follow.

I love you, Brother, and I could never say thank you enough.

Don’t give up, don’t let despair at the overwhelming needs overtake you. God is in control. “The poor you will always have with you” said Jesus. Sometimes I wonder if the “poor” could be us North Americans, knowing the “cost” of many things (like Child sponsorship) and the value of nothing.

I just got my “5 Year” pen from Compassion in the mail. 2 kids, one in Haiti and the other in the Dominican. We do what we can – a drop removed from the ocean of need… but God is bigger than that ocean. You are a good and faithful servant, do not give up.