Wednesdays for Water

I want to talk to the mamas this week.

I posted this video last week when I announced that I want water for my 30th birthday. (30 gifts of $30 will provide 45 people with safe, clean water forever. That would make me super happy about turning 30.)

This week I want to huddle with the mamas, and I don’t even want $30 – I’m asking you for $19.

Did you hear “19” in the video? If you didn’t watch it, go back and click Play. It’s only three-and-a-half minutes long.

I bet the mamas heard “19” more than anyone.

About every 19 seconds, a mother loses one of her children to a water-related illness.

Several months ago I wrote about how Mommy Eyes changed the way I see the world. It happens again every time I watch this video. I grab my little man and hug him close for a moment, while he squirms to get away and chase his ball, and kiss his squishy face and thank God – thank God – that I don’t have to worry about something so basic as our water. 

None of us will ever have to worry about our babies dying from diarrhea or dehydration.

None of us will ever have to hold our little ones and watch them suffer from something that is so easily solved.

None of us will ever have to battle with a decision to either withhold water from our babies and toddlers, or poison them with it.

Every 19 seconds, a mama has to say goodbye to one of her little ones – her princess, her peanut, her sweetie pie, her meatball – because of water.

Water.

Mamas, that’s not okay.

I was asking for $30 for my 30th birthday, and that’s still great if that’s what you want to do. If you’re a dude, don’t let me stop you right now.

But this week I want to ask the mommies for a memorial offering. Nineteen dollars for the 19 seconds that our friends around the world cling to hope.

Nineteen dollars for the 19 seconds that babies still snuggle, so that we – together – can push it back to 20 seconds, and then 21, and then 22, until the day that no mother has to worry about the water she gives her children.

Join us here: