The true meaning of Christmas

Several months ago, I watched a documentary that touched me so much, I sobbed through it. It was about women in 3rd world countries who do not have access to obstetrical care. They labor, sometimes for over a week, before their dead baby is finally removed. Then their life gets worse... because of prolonged labor, they have developed a fistula, which causes urine to leak constantly. Because of the smell, they are completely rejected from family and their community. Their husbands leave them, they cannot even live in the family's house. Outcast for life. But there are people who are doing something. There are a few doctors who have established a wonderful hospital with a 93% cure rate. Wow! I was so touched. These are mothers... like me. If I hadn't gotten care during labor, this could have been me or one of my friends. As I watched about these women, I felt God whisper that I needed to do something.

A day before I left for Thanksgiving, I got fund-raising information and so I started as soon as I got home. This has been very difficult, since I am not good at selling. I'm not the kind of person to have parties of one kind or another, but this Thursday I had a party to raise money. Not a whole lot of people came, but the women who did were very excited and we came up with a great plan to raise more. We have raised over $300 so far... but I hope that will just be a drop in the bucket. If you are interested, you can donate at: www.fistulafoundation.org

As I have prayed for help and a desire to serve, I have felt the spirit of Christmas so strong! I am just overcome by how blessed I am! It still gets me teary to think of how rich we are! I have a family that is healthy. I have clean water... and plenty of it. I have never worried about how to feed my children. Never. My husband has work. The fact that I am an educated woman, who was able to choose my occupation as well as my husband, makes me very unique in this world!

It is almost overwhelming to think of how much need there is in the world. 40% of the world lives in severe poverty! Not because they are lazy or deserve it. No. God has placed me... all of us... in a position where we have so much potential to make a difference. We may be in the middle of a financial crisis, but it's not such a crisis to most of us that we are wondering how to feed our children.

That is my plea to us all this season. I don't care if your cause isn't mine... just find a cause. Find some way to serve and lift. Sorry if I sound self-righteous. This is something I struggle with, too... as I find myself considering how many gifts we'll give our children, or which color shirt I want for Christmas. Let us pause and think of for WHOM we celebrate this season, and why we celebrate HIS LIFE. Let us make a sacrifice on His behalf... not just a buck in a salvation army's bucket. A sacrifice for HIM who sacrificed everything.