What Is Your Purpose?

Most of us have been told at one time or another in our lives that what we have and how much we have (speaking of material possessions) never really fills that endless, deep hole in our hearts. Some of you already know this from many of your own experiences of trying to fulfill the emptiness of your heart with stuff (I know I have). Our culture of America sadly flourishes in this mind set. The truth of the matter is that our hearts forever long to be seen by somebody…I mean really be seen! We want to know that we are enough, we matter, we are important. We all long for this in some way, shape, or form…whether we admit it or not.

As I was talking to one of the Mama’s at Hope Children’s Home today (Mama Beatrice) the topic of her living in America came up (you could see the stars in her eyes as she talked about it). A lot of Ugandan people dream of coming to America. To them it is seen as an answer to their daily challenges. America seems “the” place to be. Life would be so much better for them…if only they could make it there (we have so much money and so many things).

I began sharing with her that even if you were to live in America and had all the money you wanted, it wouldn’t really give you a deep fulfillment. She looked at me puzzled. Maybe my English accent stumped her or maybe she couldn’t understand why I would tell her this odd thing. How could that be true (money not being an answer)? I began explaining to her how months before moving to Uganda I had a lot of really nice things, big house, two cars…. but one thing I lacked, purpose. What was my purpose? What was God thinking when he created me? How was I to make a difference in this world? What was I born to do? I was missing pieces to a puzzle in my life.

I have found many pieces to my puzzle along this amazing journey. The most important and profound one is this. As I began to love, honor, adore and see the Children at Hope Children’s Home I found…me. What could be more fulfilling than giving yourself to somebody who needs to be reminded that they matter, that they are seen, that they are loved and truly adored? To me…nothing. I have found that there is a lot of buried treasure in so many people if we just stop for a moment and listen to their hearts and listen to who they are. Then we can help them see what a gift and treasure they truly are and that they have great value and purpose.

The one thing that I really love about SMI is that they truly believe that each one of us has a purpose(whether you live here in Uganda or the U.S.) They have encouraged the children who live at Hope Children’s Home in many different ways that they have a purpose, that they matter ,that they are loved and seen by God. Please join with Show Mercy International today. Help us as we help others find their purpose in life, you might just find yours in the process. Go to www.showmercy.org.