Giving’s Surprise Ending
At the heart of Christmas is giving. Yet, as a child, I was much more interested in receiving. “It is more blessed to give than to receive” seemed like nonsense my parents told me when they wanted to change my attitude or at least change the subject.
The years have changed my mind about giving, in part because caring for orphans taught me giving’s surprise ending. When loving on children who need family, “the givers” receive. The blessings flow both ways; true blessings always do, but you know this. It’s what you share with us and others when you come back from GO Haiti Vision Trips, and you share it beautifully…
Cristine – “I learned that freedom can actually be achieved.”
TJ – “I learned about love with no strings attached.”
Sarah – “God has always been there, even when I didn’t acknowledge Him.”
Laura – “I sense my calling may be in missions. I did not realize that I could love someone so much that I just met.”
Alex – “I gave an orphan boy my bracelet, and he ran away and came back to me with his own bracelet. My gift cost me nothing. His gift cost him everything. I was stunned by the love and generosity of this orphan boy. It reminded me of the story Jesus told of the widow’s mite in the Bible.”
Emma – “Real life happens when I focus on loving and pleasing God first, and stop worrying about pleasing myself.”
Bella – “This trip changed the way I view love.”
Halle – “I realized that real life and real love is not about serving myself and being selfish. It is about loving and serving God. Before I came to Haiti, I really didn’t believe in God. However, the love of the orphans who have nothing, and the way the Haitian people worshiped God with passion, helped to change my thinking. There is no other explanation for it than God must be real.”
This Christmas make December Different by helping children who need family. This month, your gifts GO to help meet the most basic needs of orphaned and abandoned children in our partners’ care; children who God has brought into our lives to show us how givers receive.
Make a Single Donation Make an ongoing (Monthly) Donation
Donations can also be mailed to The Global Orphan Project,
6114 N. 9 Highway, Parkville, MO 64152, and must be mailed and postmarked on or before December 31st to receive your tax deduction for 2013.