Mary Anna Brown is a Marketing Strategist for Lifeway Women. She manages the marketing for the Women’s brand and the Bible study product lines for Women, Marriage, Family, and Film.
As the month of November kicks off, it’s easy to remember to share in a spirit of thankfulness. The trees are turning beautiful colors, families begin to make plans to gather, and Pinterest overflows with a cornucopia of decadent food recipes. What’s not to be thankful for this time of year?
But come January, when it turns toe-numbing cold and my gas heat bill skyrockets, when I vow to detox from all the holiday sugar, and I go back to the doldrums of normalcy—will I still feel thankful? I want to wake up every morning with thankfulness on my lips.
Here’s how it happens: I turn on my faucet to brush my teeth.
Recently, I returned from a 14-day trip to western Kenya, serving as a missionary in the townships of the Kipsigis people. Our accommodations during the trip included indoor plumbing, but the water was contaminated. This meant that I practically wore a bottle of water at my side for the duration of the trip. I used it to drink, brush my teeth and wash my face and hands. After a shower (meaning a trickle of water dripping from the showerhead), I ceremoniously wiped my “clean” body down with anti-bacterial wipes. Days out in the field meant access to no clean water, much less plumbing. Of all of the poverty, hardship, and crisis I saw in Kenya, lack of clean water–such a basic part of my everyday life–impacted me the post.
I vividly remember my first shower when I returned to the U. S. I stood there practically forever with the perfect pressure running down my face. That night, I stuck my toothbrush directly under the stream and then gulped handfuls of water straight from the tap. I no longer feared a rogue bacteria would sicken me.
As I meditate on my blessings this season, I don’t want to forget the millions of people worldwide that don’t have access to clean water. That’s ridiculous, isn’t it?! And I want this season of thankfulness to translate into an entire year of action.
There are a handful of clean water non-profits that will help you learn more and get involved. My favorite is blood:water mission, as I have a personal connection with one of its founders. blood:water is unique because it addresses the link between the people living with HIV/AIDS and access to clean water. They accomplish their mission by building clean water wells, providing sanitation education, establishing prevention and treatment programs, and training people to lead change within their own communities.
When you brush your teeth tonight before bed, join me in thankfulness for clean water…and let’s together remember our brothers and sisters living without tonight.
{Today’s Giveaway} $25 Target e-giftcard today. Enter to win by leaving a comment about a mission trip or project that left a big impact on you.
Today’s giveaway closes at midnight (12:00 a.m.) CST. The winner will be chosen at random using random.org, a true random number service. The winner will be contacted via email to claim the prize.
UPDATE: Congratulations to Beth Howe for winning this giveaway!
