Grandmother's Mantra

I was driving to work a few days after the horrendous earthquake in Haiti listening to NPR on the radio. The reporter was telling how survivors had gathered in a central area to wait for aid...water,food, medical care. She told how occasionally someone in the crowd of hundreds of survivors would break out in song, how others would join in the chanting and how it relieved the tension of waiting.

During the reporter's wanderings through the crowd, she came upon an elderly woman who was seated under the shade of a small tree. The woman was completely alone. As the reporter approached, she realized that the old woman was singing, "Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Amen!" She sang it with all her heart; her own little tune, over and over again.

In speaking to her, the reporter found that the little grandmother had lost everything she owned. She had no home, no money, no family or friends. She was totally alone, except for her great faith in her God to which she sang a song of absolute praise!

How amazing! To have your whole world literally crumble around you and still have be able to find it within yourself to praise the Creator.

Haiti and her people are in great need. Help is arriving daily, but so much of the infrastructure has been damaged, that aid is not reaching others as quickly as is needed.

Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, "Life's most urgent question is: What are you doing for others?" At times like this, it is difficult to know what to do. However, there are some organizations that can be turned to that you can be sure that your gift goes where it is needed.

The Red Cross is already in Haiti. Donations and ways to help can be found here.

UNICEF has historically cared for children around the world. To help their efforts in Haiti click here.

Doctors Without Borders are on the ground in Haiti, doing what they can under extremely difficult conditions. To help them click here.

Habitat for Humanity International will be re-building once areas are cleared. To be part of their efforts, click here.

God bless all who are reaching out to help those in Haiti. "Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Amen."