A Servant Heart

One of my favorite Christmas songs is ‘Mary Did You Know?’. It is a beautiful song using pieces of scriptures about the miracles that Jesus would perform and about the prophecy that Mary received from the angel Gabriel.

Every time I hear this song I begin to tear up; like right now as I listen to it for inspiration. But, I have to wonder if we know these lyrics to be true to us. Do we really know that Jesus walked on water? Do we know that He calmed a storm with His hand? Do we know that when His mother kissed Him, that she was kissing the face of God? Do we really? This lyrics are poignant and stirring, but I wonder if they have simply become lyrics that we sing, instead of  a proclamation of our own faith.

Before I answer that question, I want to ask you a few questions about things that you know. Take a deep breath, go to a quiet place and  prepare yourself….

Did you know that one out of three children living in New York City is living in poverty?

Did you know that in some countries, parents sell their children to brothels in exchange for money to buy food?

Did you know that almost 11 million (yes I said million) children die needlessly each year due to infectious illnesses and diseases that are preventable?

Did you know that  over 33 million children in Africa are at risk for starvation right now?

Did you know that there are 47 million people in the United States that do not have health insurance with 8 million of this number being children?

Did you know that about 600,000 families and 1.35 million children experience homelessness in America?

Did you know that more than 100 million children in the world are not in school today?

Did you know that 70% of those children are girls?

Did you know that every 3 seconds a child under the age of 5 dies?

Did you know that Malaria claims over one million lives each year and a child every 30 seconds?

Did you know that for many families in other countries it can be a 2 day trip or more to the nearest medical facility or hospital?

Did you know that over 2 billion people in developing countries rely upon certain fuels that produce a significant amount of dangerous smoke and indoor air pollution which can cause respiratory illnesses?

Did you know that there is something that an individual, a family, a church and a community can do to change these things?

I sit and reflect on the blessings that I have received in life. My life isn’t a field of strawberries and cream, but I am still in the top 4% of the wealthiest people on this earth. I am in the top 4% because I have more than one set of clothes, I have a refrigerator, I have a car, I have an income, I have a roof over my head and I have an education. All of these ‘haves’ are blessings. Whatever else may go wrong or what things I think I still need and don’t have, I still have all of these blessings.

It is hard to imagine others living without those things that I mentioned above. So hard, in fact that we often act incredulous towards them. ‘How can a person be on the street? Everybody can get food.’ ‘Oh, those things I hear about other countries can’t all be true, can it?’ Aren’t these the thoughts that come to our minds? Instead of the one question that should always be at the forefront, “How can I help this person?” Because no matter what circumstance a person finds themselves in, they still are a person. A person who deserves love, respect and assistance. Who better to give those things than a person of faith?

Christmas is a time of family, friends, giving, receiving, lights, singing and of course rejoicing. Rejoicing in the heavenly gifts that we receive each and every day.

Rejoicing and celebrating the birth that brought these blessings to us.

Why not rejoice and celebrate by continuing in the tradition of blessing others? It doesn’t take much.

Instead of giving another tie to dad or bottle of perfume that mom will never wear, why not give the gift of hope and life to someone in need in their name?

Please check our website’s Christmas Gifts page for links and gift ideas for this holiday season. Save on wrapping paper and tape and give the gift of love, compassion, hope and faith. Put the Christ back in Christmas.

So, go online and listen to ‘Mary Did You Know?” and reflect on the things that you now know. And then take a moment and think about the blessings in your life that stem from the little child that was born in a manger who gave of His life so that we might have one. So that we might have hope. Give the gift of hope; give the gift of life. Don’t let your faith get swept aside in the busyness of the whirlwind that is called Christmas.  And no, we shouldn’t only focus on these gifts during Christmas, but you have to start somewhere. Why not on Christ’s birthday? It’s just a thought. Merry Christmas!!