Last night I slept soundly. I closed my eyes and woke 8 hours later feeling good. I’ve not slept this way for some years. Blame age, eating too late, too much red wine, a husband with a chronic snoring issue, a cat with a tendency to tear at the furniture at 3am, sleepwalking children; what you will, but nowadays a solid block of sleep often evades me. It set me to wondering why this was.
I’m in my hometown of Melbourne this week, staying in a small boutique hotel. I slept with the window open despite the cold. I fell asleep listening to the No. 8 trams rumbling up and down Toorak Road, the sound of rain spattering on the window, the distant toot of a train, a church bell tolling and early in the morning, sweet little sparrows busily chatting to one another in the tree outside. And then it dawned on me. This is why I had slept so well. These were the sounds of my childhood. These everyday sounds had provided me with a sense of place, of familiarity and contentment. They were safe sounds. They afforded me a steady continuum of indirect security throughout my childhood and into early adulthood. They were (along with certain scents) a constant. A reassuring constant.
And then I spent the next day with the team at World Vision Australia and a bunch of inspirational bloggers discussing how we could, together, inform people of the plight of children in need and distress and to seek the support of Australians in trying to bring about positive change in their lives.
As I drove back to the hotel, I wept in my car as I realized that none of the children World Vision are hoping to have sponsored enjoy the “sound security” I did. Their familiar sounds are more likely to be the drone of warplanes, gunfire and explosions, or the sounds of people suffering (or dying) from disease, malnutrition or injury.
I have no wish to appear melodramatic in putting up this post. My experience and the telling of it is simply a personal observation.
We may not be able to change the sounds of their childhoods, but by sponsoring a child through World Vision we might be able to ensure that their path to adulthood is just a little more secure. If you’d like to help, please visit the World Vision website and sponsor a child today.
Until next time…
Image found on the great website TheMotherhood.com
As a christmas gift to my children’s pre-school, I sponsored a child. The children really enjoy learning about their friend, receiving letters, sending letters and drawings of Australian life, and learning about where their friend lives and issues she faces. They really do connect with how lucky they are to live where they do, and how hard daily life is for their friend. What really thrilled me about this was the parents of other children wanting to come on board to help. Their children were going home telling them about their friend, and they wanted to know how they could contribute. If you can’t afford to sponsor a child on your own, a collective could be an option, and our children might just learn something along the way!
That is so lovely Erin and I love the idea of a collective sponsorship. Thanks for taking the time to comment. x
gorgeous post x
Thanks Bianca!
Sometimes it is the little things that hit us hardest… the fact that we sleep with sounds of comfort (for me it is mooing cows!) and yet so many have no where to sleep and nothing of comfort.
I am glad that you noticed, and that others notice… just being aware of little things like has changed my perspective, and helped me realise that little things really can make a difference.
Lovely post and I hope that word spreads xx
Beautifully written as always CW. xxx
Love this post! For me it’s the rain on the roof, although I’m like you… there’s often a train or a tram rumbling along somewhere in the distance. It’s great to have a moment to stop, reflect and be thankful for these opportunities, small as they may be.
Wonderful to meet you and the rest of our beautiful bloggers x
A beautiful, thoughtful post x
Awwww, I think We are kindred souls! I wept as I read The second part of Your post too! We often forget just how fortunate We are compared to so many others around the World. And a large portion of those “Others”, are Children! We get safely nestled in Our comfortable beds, homes, lives; and the World at large goes on around Us, often unnoticed! Bravo to You and those other Bloggers for taking positive action Caro! XO