Our book club just finished reading this book in July. And let me tell you... this book is amazing! I can say that I have never read a book that has changed my heart as much as this one has. I recommend this book to everyone!
One of the things that affected me the most in this book was the time she spent in America after being in Uganda for a year. She described her life as "functioning" without God. If she needed food, she fixed it or went to the store. If she was sick, she went to the doctor. If she had a problem, she talked to a friend. Yes, God was still a huge part of her life, but her day was able to function without Him. Completely opposite from her life in Uganda. It makes me think of how often my life functions without God. I rely on my own strength and my own wisdom throughout the day, especially when it comes to parenting. God is reminding me that I am a broken mom, parenting a broken child and I need the love and grace of a perfect Savior.
"If being a new mom has taught me anything, it was just how inadequate I am and just how dependent I am on my Father to give me grace and strength for each day." -Kisses From Katie
Another thing so noticeable when reading this book is her love for people. Even though she sees need all around her, she believes helping one person is success. She referenced helping those in Uganda to emptying the ocean with an eye dropper.
"I will not change the world. Jesus will do that. I can, however, let Him use me to change the world for one person.”- Kisses From Katie.
Lastly, I have felt change in my own heart. I told Ryan it feels as if a veil has been lifted off of my eyes and I am seeing things in a new light.
“The truth is that the 143 million orphaned children and the 11 million who starve to death or die from preventable diseases and the 8.5 million who work as child slaves, prostitutes, or under other horrific conditions and the 2.3 million who live with HIV add up to 164.8 million needy children. And though at first glance that looks like a big number, 2.1 billion people on this earth proclaim to be Christians. The truth is that if only 8 percent of the Christians would care for one more child, there would not be any statistics left.” - Kisses From Katie
These are things I can no longer ignore. God commands us to care for the orphans and widows, it is not a 'if you want to'. Ryan and I are thinking and praying about what we can do as a family to help "just one".