Hello. Hellooooo! I know why Oprah won’t answer her phone. I have 9 Oprah shows tivoed! I haven’t watched all season! She’s mad at me. So, I sat down and watched one today.
It was the episode with Bill Clinton. He was there promoting his book, Giving: How Each of Us Can Change the World. And really that’s what the show was about. And I don’t know how to say it but…I liked him. I did.
The first guest (besides the former president) was a teenager named Kendall. She adopted a child with AIDS from Africa through one of those organizations like Compassion International or World Vision. Then as Kendall lay in the hospital having 2 liver transplants, she asked that in lieu of flowers, money be sent to kids in Africa. She’s started Kids Caring 4 Kids an organization that has literally saved an entire village in Africa.
Andre Agassi was next. I didn’t know he was a giver. He has a public charter school in a poor section of Las Vegas that is making a difference in the lives of kids. He said (and I kinda quote), “Tennis was just the platform to get me to this stage in my life.” Wow! He considers his tennis career the catapult that brought him to kids in Las Vegas?!
And now my new couple to admire, Matt and Jessica Flannery. They began and run kiva.org. A website organization that hooks lenders (like you) up with entrepreneurs in the developing world (places like Afghanistan and Nigeria). You lend money, they make peanut butter or sandals. They pay you back AND then (the kicker) your money goes back into kiva-cash and you donate it to someone else! These loans change lives and end poverty!
Then, of course, Oprah talked about her Angel Network.
And y’all. I’m jealous. I’m jealous that I did not think of one of these organizations. These people are changing the world–at least changing the world for one person!
I feel inspired and encouraged. I’m a Christian–I should want to do more than even AIDS medicine and money for business. Giving is a way to get God’s love to people around the world. I just can’t put it into words. I do want to do more. I want to give and encourage others to give.
(Maybe that’s how I’ll finally get to see Oprah, not by calling her reservation line, but by giving away some money changing the world!)
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