02.20.08 Happy Birthday Becky
Three hours of pampering at a spa: manicure, pedicure, facial, Swedish massage and lunch. I bought Becky’s birthday present before I left for Uganda.
Three hours = 6 months of child sponsorship.
Three hours = 6 months of nutritional counseling and skills training for a mother, food and clothes and education for a child, medicine, books and teachers, care from Christian workers, and letters packed with love and cheers from a sponsor.
Three hours = six months of hope for one child.
Becky works hard. She’s doing our taxes all by herself, taking care of three kids on her own while I’m out of town most weekends (and for eight days while I was in Africa). She manages our lives, mine, hers, the kids, perfectly. She is the loudest cheerleader in my life. The best kisser on the planet. Accountant, nurse, best friend, counselor, gardener, decorator, party thrower, worshipful listener, prayer, janitor, repair man, socializer of three children into the Judeo-Christian ethic, pony tail maker and bad dream chaser. I love her completely. And she deserves a break, a little rub down, a lunch she doesn’t have to make.
It’s money well spent.
I keep telling myself that. Sometimes I even believe it. I knew this would happen. This isn’t the first time the third world has crawled through my eyeballs, jiggled the wires in my brain, and melted holes in my heart. I knew this would happen.
That’s why I bought Becky’s birthday present before I left for Uganda.
Somewhere between Uganda and America is enough. I wish someone published a map to that place; it’s hard to find some days. Birthdays, for instance.
I’m jet lagged and feeling more than a little alien here in the suburbs but I love you, Becky. For loving jet lagged alien me, if nothing else. Happy birthday.
Cali Amy said:
Happy Birthday Becky!
boomama said:
I too would like to find the happy place somewhere between Uganda and here. If you run across it, let me know.
Happy Birthday, Becky!
Anne Jackson said:
Happy Birthday Becky!
My birthday dinner was last night (1.5 months of sponsorship), a gift from Chris (1 month) and tonight I bought my annual birthday splurge jeans (2 months).
Forget Ugandan Shillings. Forget American dollars. I think the currency we use now is how much it takes to change a life.
said:
Happy Birthday Becky!
Sorry Shaun, my wife probably kisses better than your wife.
Stephanie said:
Now a manicurist, pedicurist, masseuse, cosmetologist, chef, and server are able to put food on their tables because they had another client/customer today.
said:
Happy Birthday Becky!
Shaun,
Pampering your wife is always money well spent.
Beth
Laura O'Kane said:
I pray Becky has a blessed birthday. Glad you took care of the present before you left!
Your trip and your account of the poverty has rocked my world. I can’t imagine what it has done to you.
Press on and share the stories, the pictures and miracles. It seems the Lord has blessed you with story telling and sharing what’s on His heart.
said:
Happy wife so that Shaun can continue his ministry and save hundreds of kids lives. . . priceless!!
The present was money well spent and deserved.
Happy Birthday, Becky!
Lori@The Bargain Shopper Lady said:
Happy Birthday Becky!
Shaun, we sponsored a little girl named Esther!
Fatdaddye said:
Man, this might be your most thought provoking post ever. I constantly ask myself these same questions. There is a fine line to walk with these things. Birthdays aside, how much is too much when providing for our families? How much can we go without before we are oppressive husbands and fathers? Are we still providing for our families if we eat ramen noodles every night? I would say so. A large portion of this planet would love ramen noodles every night. It’s better than dirt cakes. maybe this isn’t what you are getting at, at all, but it certainly made me think about this. I apologize if this is too random or makes no sense to anyone other than me.
said:
Reminds me of that new song that is out
Somewhere in the Middle (Casting Crowns, I think or Mercy Me)?????
Kelly
anon4him said:
Happy belated Birthday Becky! You ROCK! I want to be like you!
Iz said:
Shaun, I’m so sorry you don’t love your wife. I thought, in reading your blog over the duration of Uganda, that you were a compassionate and truely deep hearted guy. But then comes the part about the wife/spa/birthday...and I know you don’t really love her. You had her spend HER DAY at the wrong spa! Full time ministry persons associated with TPC are half price on any service we offer… her day would have cost you only 3 months of child sponsership. And we would have prayed over her while ushering her into a peaceful, stress-free place, filled with the Spirit. But alas, you didn’t know… And it is an incredible gift to receive peace and relaxation, even if you go to the wrong spa.
(Ask the Elrods about Izabella.) And next time there is a gift giving occassion, keep us in mind. Happy Birthday, Becky!
Oh,and welcome home. You did an incredible job expressing the needs of all those kids!