Dear God,

If you are listening out there I certainly have a lot to say tonight. I cannot begin to explain how grateful I am during this Christmas season. I am privileged enough to attend university, have 3 meals a day, and have a loving family that is always supporting me. I hold a lot of happiness in my heart, but I also hold a lot of sadness as well. Not everyone has a family to come home to, not everyone can even eat one meal a day, and not everyone in this world is allowed, or can even receive an education. All of these luxuries that I hold are not luxuries that billions of others around this world may hold. So I ask why? Why do I have this God, and others don't?

There are seven billion souls that you brought into this world, yet we all live such different lives, cultures, and norms. I almost feel guilty sometimes. There are 1 billion beautiful souls that are starving to death, and I have the luxury of food all around me. In my world I don't see war, but yet, innocent children in Aleppo are witnessing the tragic death of their loved ones right before their eyes. In many cultures having a female daughter is an atrocity to the family, while a male son is an honor. How is this the world? I get to live my day-to-day life and easily forget about all the weirdness, tragedy, and evil that is within this world, but for many, it is their life everyday. It makes me sick to my stomach at times.

There are so many tragedies that this world holds. It's so overwhelming to think about sometimes, but then part of me thinks, why aren't people thinking about them? People are simply ignoring the realities of this world and it's not okay. Why aren't leaders making more of an effort to create more equality for all human beings? I just don't get it. I know and understand that we have to honor and respect the differences around this world, but God, I want change. All I want is to see a change. I feel like I am witnessing the end of the world right before my eyes sometimes. I may not see it everyday, but I know there is a lot of poverty, starvation, war, inequality, and so much suffering throughout this place we call earth.

American culture is the role model for so many countries around this world, and we certainly aren't perfect either. We are right behind China when it comes to being destructors of the environment, but I don't see any policies or changes happening to better this beautiful earth that you created. It's only getting worse and worse. And we do nothing.

All I want for Christmas, Lord, is change. I want to see every being on this earth living life to the absolute fullest. I'm so tired of seeing lives cut short Lord. And I know you are too.