because who really needs that stuff in the dollar bin at Target, anyway?

“And what does the $33 a month cover?”

I was on the phone with the Missions pastor at Westside Church in Kansas City, trying to learn how his church meets the needs of impoverished children around the world.

“It covers food, medical care, shelter and access to education. It’s nothing that would compare with the standard of living children have in Tampa or Kansas City.

It’s nothing fancy.

Just the basics.

Because, where these children are coming from, the situations they’re in right now—

good is great.”

That phrase has stuck with me. It’s ricocheted off the corners of my mind these past few days.

What if good were great?

What if my 5 year old Rainbows were enough—they sure seem to have an eternal soul—what if I stretched them another summer, committed to replacing them later?

What if last season’s (and the seasons or two before that) Loft dresses were just fine and I could keep at bay the urge to maneuver the current fashion demands?

What if those knick-knacks and shiny Target gimmicks and certain updates for the house could wait?

What I already have is good…can I start to consider it as great?

Here’s what I know.

If my coffee get s brewed at home, and a few more meals are cooked attempted at home; if I spend less time lusting over shiny JCrew shoes  and more time watching over our finances, I might just free up some $$ we didn’t have before.

Money that could be sent to those little ones overseas who have

so. very. little.

If my current good can become great in my own eyes I might just be able to change some lives.

There are children, millions and millions of children, near and far, who will never (even be able to consider) a lifestyle that by our standards is called good. If we can recognize the pull that consumerism has on our souls, and begin to abstain, little by little, we might just break away long enough to catch a vision for The Least of These. We might just break away long enough to free up that $33 a month needed to transform

just one life

from barely-getting-by

to good.

And these children, when given the opportunity, would tell you that their good truly is great.