The Cup

[Brad Fox]

By Brad Fox

When I was in Uganda, Central Africa, in 2007, I visited a camp for Internally Displaced People of that country.  An IDP camp is a safe place for families with children to live.  IDP camps were made to protect children from being kidnapped and enrolled into the Lord’s Resistance Army of Joseph Kony.  He was a terrorist trying to overthrow the governments of Uganda and Congo using child soldiers who were trained to kill.  These camps weren’t intended to be a punishment, but rather a protection.  Unfortunately, the innocent people there were prevented from working as farmers and were forced to idle away their time in the camps. 

The camp children would attend make-shift schools where caring adults would try to train the children in the fundamentals of education.  At break time in the morning, children would often be given a drink of flavored powder mixed with milk, and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.  It would sometimes be the only meal such children would receive during the day. 

Children would have to bring their own cup to school to receive their drink.  No cup; no drink. 

In America, we have two ways to look at a beverage cup; half full, or half empty.  The former is a pessimistic view, wishing for more than you were given.  The latter is an optimistic view where a recipient is simply thankful for what they received. 

But an African view is to just be thankful that I have a cup!  Not concerned how full or empty it is, but grateful that I have a cup to receive something.

Philippians 4:19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Matthew 6:31-32 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.

Matthew 7:11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

Luke 12:24 Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!

Psalm 34:10 The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.