This morning I was scrolling through my Facebook memories, nostalgically reminiscing at pictures of my children. Heart warmed, I continued perusing the 'you became friends with such and such two years ago today' notifications. A snapshot of my life reflected in a collection of memories that are so easily forgotten.
The big and the small moments get stored away as we muddle through the highs and lows of life. New moments are enjoyed and new battles are endured - I'm glad to have records of it all.
Sitting there in my own little bubble with my husband and children I was preoccupied with thoughts of the day. Mentally listing the jobs I had to do that day and the things I needed to get ready for the week ahead. I was enjoying my morning cuppa whilst toying with ideas for the weeks meals - you know, normal stuff. Being the multi-tasker that I am I was still passively scrolling through Facebook.
Then I came across a post that I shared two years ago.
I was overwhelmed as a collection of harrowing images flooded my screen.
An image of a father cradling his terrified child.
An image of a woman struggling to keep her head above the waves as she fights her way to safety.
An image of a small child face down in the sand having drowned.
My fuzzy, warm heart feeling disappeared; in its place shame, anger and grief.
Two years ago I shared a post about refugees. I was outraged by the suffering inflicted on innocent people. I felt immense sadness for the tragedy that had struck them.
Then I forgot.
I was still aware of it, I wasn't under any illusion that things were better. I was faced with my own issues, wrapped up in the immediate problems in my own world.
I live in a country where I am able to experience a normal life and all that comes with that. I drift through the mundane and have moments of real joy. I am not fearing for my life, struggling to feed my children and I have a place to call home.
The things that seperate me from refugees are the very things that distract me from their suffering.
Are you still aware? Are you still outraged?
Or have we allowed ourselves to become desensitised to the anguish of other people?
Currently there are 22.5 million refugees around the world.
Refugees are people. They are men, women and children who are forced to risk their lives journeying to a foreign country because the alternative is certain death.
We cannot forget about the refugee crisis, we cannot forget about the violence in war torn countries and we cannot forget about the deaths of children.
Two years ago I posted this with the pictures:
"I can't look at these images without crying, this is the reality of what is going on and we could do so much more to help. The lives of these men, women and children are worth no less than our own."
This is still the reality we are faced with and it's only getting worse.
The first step to helping is caring and the second step is action.
In two years time I want to be able to say I haven't forgotten.