Have you heard people tell you that God spoke to them? Have you asked someone how they knew to do something, or not do something, and their response was that God told them so. They don't say they were guided by their moral convictions, religious beliefs, or their church - they simply say God spoke.
I've waited 27 years to be able to say that. And now I can. He said..... "Diapers".
Iggy was almost potty trained before Babygirl was born. I knew he would regress, which he did - and that is fine. But now, we have two young children - both in diapers. With the average cost of a diaper being around 22 cents per diaper - and a baby needing 6-10 diapers a day... well - our monthly diaper budget is around $150. That's not exactly pocket change.
Being the Craigslist fanatic that I am, I will occasionally browse on there and try to locate diapers that are closer to 16 cents per diaper. There are surprisingly quite often decent deals when mommies over-order or have diapers that are too small for their babies. New, unopened diapers at a significant cost cut (but now you have to factor in gas and travel time). I digress.
As I search for "pampers" (our diaper of choice) on Craigslist, most of the results populate from the "baby/kids" section. But quite a few come from "wanted". I read through some of these. Some are middle class women like myself just trying to save a few bucks. But some, the ones that strike me to the core, are women in desperation.
I start doing some research. Did you know that NO federal assistance programs (SNAP Food Benefits, WIC, etc.) allow for the purchase of diapers? Did you know that most childcare institutions (even federally sponsored/subsidized low income ones) require disposable diapers to be provided for the children to attend? How can you be a working mother without diapers for childcare? How can you be a single struggling parent and not work? How can you be sure your baby is dry, clothed and clean/safe when you can't provide for diapers???
I look at my babies as I learn all of this and I can feel my eyeballs turning hot and wet. I learn that 52% percent of families receiving public assistance are headed by a single mother. I start imagining this mother's guilt, despair, regret, anxiety and fear of not being able to provide her child or children with diapers. I read about mothers who have to get very creative with diapering - which usually consists of washing and reusing disposable diapers, keeping them on longer than safe, using cloth or anything in order to "save" the diapers for childcare center use. I cringe and fill with regret and sorrow for the families that have to worry about their children's absolute basic hygienic needs.
I won't get into my political opinions or my beliefs that government is built not just to govern and protect the people, but by extension of protect - provide for the needy. Regardless of your own political opinions and whether or not you think diapers should be provided (or at least purchasing assistance provided) for those who qualify - my main point here is that so many of us just take for granted that this is a need that is already being met. If you haven't researched what kind of federal assistance programs exist, and you know many do, you may (like me) be under the assumption that diapers (such a necessity) are included in some way. They are not. There is a definite diaper dilemma.
While whether or not our government should assist in diaper provisions is a heated and controversial topic, I do know for certain that in Christianity, it is not. It's fairly simple, actually. I found an interesting page on the topic, here. Deut. 15:7. If there is a poor man among you, one of your brothers, in any of the towns of the land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart, nor close your hand to your poor brother; but you shall freely open your hand to him, and generously lend him sufficient for his need in whatever he lacks.
So often we think of poverty and we are uncomfortable. I'm guilty of it myself. Since I was little - when I am in a car and pulling up to an intersection with a homeless person or peddler, I reach over and lock the car door. Even in a car that automatically locked itself shortly after I got it, I got in the habit of double sometimes triple checking. I have this fear that the poverty stricken homeless person is so desperate that they would open my car door and.... I don't know... take my change or something. I've even looked out my car window at their sign in judgement, wondering what they did to get where they are.
And while it is irrefutable that our own life choices guide our circumstances - it is also sometimes true that our circumstances force our choices.
With all of the sobering information I was finding online about the diaper dilemma - I was happy to find that just like Food Banks exist to provide for the needy, there are also Diaper Banks. I clicked on a link and searched for Austin. Not only is there not a diaper bank in Austin, I could not find one anywhere in the Central Texas Area.
This is when God spoke. And he said, "Diapers".
I hope that if you are reading this, you will help me in my quest. I would like to start small and host a diaper drive at CryoStudio of Austin (our small business) as well as with my social media friends and family. I will post a flyer with more information once I cement it. First thing's first, I have to decide which wonderful organizations and non-profits will be benefiting from this diaper drive. Suggestions are welcome and appreciated!
Eventually, maybe we can make diaper drives a monthly occurrence - at your workplace, all over town! Heck maybe we even incorporate as a 501(c)(3), get someone to donate their time and resources to build a website, accept applications from needy families and other service organizations, etc! A website is SO important because while researching all of this, I found so many great blogs and websites that educate consumers about how to get the best deals, coupons, samples, etc from companies - such as Faithful Provisions.
I do believe that this diaper drive was a direct message to me from my master. I am positive that he has spoken to me before, but I wasn't able to hear it. Only a week into my 40 day spiritual journey and Lenten fast, my "hearing" has drastically improved. I look forward to listening for more guidance along this journey, and for help from my family and friends for this important cause as well. :)
