Sunday, December 23, 2007

December 23rd, 2007

It's still Christmas time.

I am deeply moved with the beautiful gift expression our children sent us this Christmas. They are responding in a vital way to the people of the earth.

"This gift buys, vaccinates and provides shelter for one goat, while also training farmers on how to raise healthy and productive animals".
"This gift helps communities plant 100 trees".
"This gift provides one month of meals for an orphaned child".
"Please don't give us any gifts this year...we are going to give to a worthy cause instead. We will not go into debt, we will give what we can afford".

It's amazing what happens when we step out of the norm for our society, recognizing that the extravagance of Christmas giving and recieving is ...say it...
I am humbled. I am very proud of them. I am delighted with them.
There is so much we can do to help others.

As Christians, we are representative of Christ, as people of God's Kingdom. Jesus' mission was to preach good news to the poor, release for the captives, sight for the blind, freedom from oppression for the downtrodden.. the time of the Lord's favour has come... from Luke 4:18,19.
If we say, "What kind of a God would allow suffering on the earth?", we are asking the wrong question. "What kind of a person am I, that I allow suffering to go on right before my eyes and do nothing about it?"
Imagine the kind of world we would have if all North American Christians would help the poor of our world in some way, imagine...

"Then the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? When did we see You a stranger and invite You in, or needing clothes and clothe You? When did we see You sick or in prison and go to visit You?'
"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.' Matthew 25:37-40

Lord keep our eyes and hearts open to the needs around us. There is so much work to do. Let us encourage each other in this task.

Thank you so much, my dear children.

2 comments:

Claire said...

I'm only disappointed we didn't think of something like this earlier! We have to make an effort to include charity in our lives, beyond throwing the odd $20 into the offering plate on Sundays.

Henny said...

Agreed.