Compassion Family: Too Small to Ignore

Sunday, July 31, 2011

Too Small to Ignore - Introduction

I am very excited to begin this community read through of Too Small to Ignore by Wess Stafford. This is one of my all time favorite books and it appeals to me on so many levels. As a Compassion sponsor, I appreciate learning more about the man behind this ministry. As an advocate, I am inspired to to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. As a parent, I am encouraged to bend down on my knee and look my children in the eye.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts as we read through together. In an ideal world, we could meet nightly and discuss what we are reading, but we'll have to settle for having a dialogue through comments.

As you are reading, I would encourage you to highlight or underline or journal what is speaking to you. At the end of each chapter, ask yourself...."What was significant to me?"

If you are inspired to write about your observations, please consider submitting your thoughts to me and I can post them for all to read. You can email me at fiddlejill(at)yahoo(dot)com.

Anyway...let's get started. Grab your book and read the introduction.

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Then come back here and let us know what stood out to you.

Comments (11)

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fiddlejill 88p · 713 weeks ago

I'll start the discussion . I highlighted the following ...

p 5 - "You never stand so tall as when you stoop to help a child."

p. 8 - Each child is born into the world loved and full of potential to bring joy to the heart of God.

p. 11 - Your small pebble in the pond of one child's life may send out ripples that eventually transform many others. - this rings so true to me right now. I recently got a letter from Ayon in India (you may have read it in an earlier post). He talks about how sponsorship has changed his life and how he wants to someday be a teacher. One reader commented on how many lives he will potentially change as a teacher.

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Michelle Rausch · 713 weeks ago

I underlined the same lines you did Jill...... plus some more!

pg. 9 ~ "It begins with the very next child God brings across your path. Every child you encounter is a divine appointment. With each one you have the power and opportunity to build the child up or tear the child down.

A life can be launched with as little as a single phrase, an uplifting word, or an act of kindness. The spirit of a little child is a lot like wet cement. When a child is young, it takes little effort to make an impression that can last a lifetime."

I've been holding that thought close to my heart lately. We have some neighbor children who are always sad and unkempt looking. Especially the little boy downstairs~ I've been trying to reach out to him whenever I come across him. He still won't look up, but he has somewhat smiled lately when I talk to him. I have never heard this child laugh or speak. He's going to be six soon. I have heard him cry when his parents yell or hit him. I'm hoping that he can at least tell that I care.... and maybe one day he'll actually look at me.....

I LOVED when Wes wrote "nurtured me when the cement of my soul was wet." How awesome is that? Makes me want to go out and make some hand prints in some lives!

2 replies · active 713 weeks ago

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fiddlejill 88p · 713 weeks ago

This is good stuff. I'm saying a prayer right now for your neighbor children and you as you have the opportunity to interact with them.

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Cheri · 713 weeks ago

Praying for your interactions with the neighbor boy to have the hand of God over them. Before I re-read the introduction I noticed I had underlined the phrase "when the cement of my soul was wet".

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Corina · 713 weeks ago

Yeah!! I'm excited about this, too!! Here are some quotes that spoke to me:
pg. 2: No matter what goes wrong, the little ones pay the greatest price.
pg. 5: Few gifts on earth are as wonderous as the love of a child.
pg. 10: Every child who crosses my path.......I consider a divine appointment, an opportunity to life that child up-if only for a brief moment. It may just be the moment that will luanch a life or restore one that needs kindness today.
pg. 11: Your small pebble in the pond of one child's life may send out ripples that eventually transform many others.
Oh, how I long to be one that makes a difference in the life of children......

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fiddlejill 88p · 713 weeks ago

These are all great. I really like the third one about how every encounter with a child is a divine appointment. How would my mindset and attitude change if I really thought that every time I interacted with my own children? This is why I find this book so helpful as a parent!

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Michelle · 712 weeks ago

ME TOO!!! I find that I'm reading the book as two different people: a parent and a part of the human force!

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Jim · 713 weeks ago

There are many things that stick out to me in this introduction. However, the sentence that sticks out to me the most is on page 4; "Children may not have much to give us materially, but they generously give all they have to those they love and believe in..." This is so true! And, unfortunately, many times the opposite of what we do as adults. I know I have tried too many times to gives "things" as appreciation to others. When all along, my love is really what the proverbial doctor ordered! I consider this sentence a challenge to myself to think as a child and to give my all as a child to truly make a difference.

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fiddlejill 88p · 713 weeks ago

Wow - this is really profound. I've gone back and underlined it in my book. Thanks for sharing.

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Jolene · 713 weeks ago

These same quotes touched me and inspired me. I want to be a ripple! However, at the beginning of the section I was very saddened by the fact that more children die in wars than soldiers and we hear nothing about it on the nightly news. I value our soldiers lives as well, but these children are just victims, and it is so sad.

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fiddlejill 88p · 712 weeks ago

It was quite amazing when he compared it to how the world reacted to 9/11 - something to think about.