One day, I was driving from New Jersey to New York, my journey was one and half hour instead of forty-five minutes. Traffic caused ‘Go-Slow’ on the road, since I didn’t want to get sleepy, I started listening to music. I decided to listen to the late Lucky Dube song’s “Crazy World.” The part of the song that caused me so emotional was “I pray the Lord my soul to keep, and if I die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take….” As a Philanthropist, seeks to promote the welfare of others, especially by the generous donation of money to good causes, I link the song to my story as a Philanthropist. Yes, we are living in a crazy world! Christmas is here, have you thought of the orphans, widows, and the needy? Our leaders are spending money on things that will win them political powers, neglecting the orphans. Who will buy them dresses, shoes, food, and basic things they need? How are they going to spend the Christmas?
God’s heart for the orphan is clearly displayed throughout the Good Book. God is the great protector and loving Father of all children living as orphans. In Psalm 68:5 says, “Father of the fatherless and protector of widows, is God in his holy habitation.” Orphans future and destiny depends on whoever discover them or whoever taking care of them. You must love them same as you love your children. Live for them! They didn’t choose their situation; they wish they have their parents with them. Cast your mind back and look around you, ask yourself “so this how my children will go through…. if one day I’m not in this crazy world?” Most orphans go through rape, abuse, neglection, and sad part is lack of education. Family members of these orphans are the main culprits who neglect these innocent children. These orphans are humans like you and I, if someone in your family is late, and he or she left behind children, don’t mistreat them. Mistreatment of an orphan makes them become aggressive and stubborn. Growing in a hustle life influence them to become arm robbers, prostitution, and even join a gang.
I encountered many orphans who are naturally academically good, but due to lack of support they ended up in a situation they don’t deserve. A friend of mine told me a story about his friend he went to the same High School with. He said, “my buddy was academically good…he was loved by all the teachers.” After WASSE, the friend had an aggregate 6 and he got admission to KNUST to study Medicine but due to lack of support he ended up being a High School graduate. His natural God gift talent has been killed, now he is a peasant farmer. I believe if his parents would have been alive, they would have done everything possible for their son to get into his medicine program. Orphans never ask God to give them situation like this….as you are mistreating orphans, remember there is a natural law called Karma. Note; when an orphan cry and mention his or her dead parents, remember that, it is a curse upon you and your children. And when they laugh and bless you for your kind heart towards them, remember it is a God’s Blessing to you. The government should give scholarships and free education to these orphans. They need government support and protection. The individuals too have a responsibility towards these orphans. You don’t need to be rich to help orphans, the little you have is a Blessing to them.
All children living as orphans deserve justice. In Deuteronomy 10:18 says, “He ensures that orphans and widows receive justice. He shows love to the foreigners living among you and gives them food and clothing.” There are so many vocational schools the government can establish, or the already existence ones, they can assist the orphans to learn vocational jobs. This will create more jobs opportunity for them. Not everyone is good at academic, some are good at vocational skills. Hairdressing, carpentry, mechanics, etc. providing these trainings for them will even solve unemployment situation. Whenever I see someone or a family member hating orphans, I compare the person wickedness to ‘death’. God blessings are upon orphans, so why the hate? I have a neighbor in Accra, his sister died and left behind a beautiful daughter. The orphan girl never saw her mother since she was born, the mother died through birth. The uncle adopted the poor innocent as his daughter, at her early teen age, things became worse for this poor girl. The wife of the uncle hated her so much even till date, the hate is still there. The Blessing of God have opened a way for the orphan girl, she has become the family head. Thought of it, the uncle and his would have learned lesson from their mistreatment, yet they still hating the orphan girl, now a young woman. Remember, the more you hate orphans the more God’s Grace and Blessings are upon them.
God cares about our attitudes toward and actions regarding orphans and widows. In Exodus 22:22 God says, “Do not take advantage of a widow or an orphan.” The main difficulties orphans go through a lot in Ghana are; shelter, school fees and equipment, food, bedding, clothing, medical care and provision of care to younger siblings. These are the basic needs these orphans want, Ghana government should give them free education, and clothes. Across all the sixteen regions in Ghana, 45% of the households assisting orphans lacked money for schooling compared to 15% of those with no orphans to help. As a Philanthropist, I have visited most of the regions, and I can conclude that, school attendance was lower for orphans. Uncles, Aunts, Brothers, and Sisters has neglected their responsibilities and grandparents are rather found to provide much of the orphan care in Africa. Orphans girls are victims of rape and sexual harassment, the dramatic increase of AIDS is among these orphans. How can we prevent this? Orphanages and NGOs provide direct support for the basic needs and school fees for orphans. Such group one example is, Stacy Foundation.
Stacy Foundation main goal is to provide; vocational skills, clothes, shelter, and food to the orphans and widows. This year Christmas, the Foundation went to all the 16 regions, assisting widows, orphans, and the needy for vocational careers. One of my adventurous day, I decided to take trotro. While the drive and his mate was waiting for more passengers, I have witnessed a conversation between two strangers in the trotro, one lady was telling her friend that, for her she has struggled a lot achieving her aim. So, she is not going to help any of her family….“they should also struggle like how I did.” I don’t think that mentality is fair, because you suffered, you want someone too to suffer or struggle like how you did. Have you ever thought of how God can make one person a Savior in the family or to the entire society? It takes one person to break the poverty lineage in the family, so your suffering or struggling is a testimony to the family. Philippians 2:3-4 says, “Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” The Apostle Paul is advising us, to have the same mindset as God when relating to others (the others can be anybody you encountered, especially widows and orphans), and he details just how humble God is. we should not let our actions be motivated by selfishness, pride, or one-upmanship.
Orphans always feel hopeless, lost, angry, hungry, cheated, and it seems like God has betrayed them on purpose. Why must even these happen to these orphans? Sometimes I want to even cry my heart out and punch a wall at the same time. The wickedness of some people towards orphans is uncalled for. In Genesis 12:2 says, “I will bless you so you will be a blessing.” This means, God blesses us so we can bless others. The salary you earn, the work you do, and the gifts you have been receiving (from friends, managers, co-workers) are not meant for our comfort and security, but instead use it to better serve those in need. I remembered I went to Penn Train Station in Newark, New Jersey and I met the homeless, I gave them food, snacks, and money. It was so emotional and at the same time I was happy when they were Blessing me. I felt blessed that morning. You don’t have to be rich to be a blessing to others. Being a teacher, doctor, lawyer, engineer, accountant, manager, etc. is not you’re only calling, those are not only the ways you serve your community but also the means God has given to provide his mercy and love to orphans and widows. Our time, money, and resources should not only spend our own pleasure and comfort but the orphans and widows also. Providing for the orphans, widows, homeless, and those in need is not about sympathy for their condition, it is also sharing the gifts we were given when God had mercy for our condition.
The number of orphan children in Africa has increased, while the number of orphanages has not. You can be a volunteer of help, and I can also be a volunteer of help. If you cannot be a volunteer due to your work and busy schedules, just research and support organizations that work to keep widows and orphans together. Research and donate the little you have to Charity Foundations that support orphans and widows. God Bless you and your family, your work, and your finances for reading this article and the heart you have for orphans and widows. King David wrote that, he has never seen the righteous or any of his generation begging for food. I stand on this promise, Heavenly Father will Bless you like King David…. Amen!
