I am so grateful to be with family... that we'll enjoy giving gifts to each other and that yummy meals will fill the day in this warm, comfortable home. And at the same time my heart is breaking for the countless people around the world who are not even safe and cared for on this day...preparing to celebrate is about the farthest thing from their mind.
The ever-present tension of enjoying and being grateful for what I have while wanting to extend the love and care I have been shown to others...
While the story that follows is not a traditional Christmas thought...it's very Christ-honoring so I think appropriate to share.
A friend of mine, Christina*, lives in France and is part of a group of believers who are reaching out to women who have been trafficked and forced into prostitution.
Last weekend they went out at night to give Christmas chocolates to the women working in a particular district as a way to break the ice and get to know them. By going out regularly to the same area, they hope to build relationships and trust with these women to then help them as needed.
In two hours they met 19 prostituted people - they were from Brazil, Romania, Nigeria, Croatia, Chile, Bulgaria, Ghana and one from France...the women were thankful for the Christmas chocolates.
There was one girl in particular that Christina feels burdened for, I'd like to introduce you to her now. She is about 18 years old, short and has a wonderful smile. The language barrier made communication between she and Christina a challenge, but the girl had a genuine smile the whole time. In 40° weather, her bare legs were covered in goosebumps and she fidgeted, shifting her weight from one leg to another, as she shivered - and yet she smiled. She gave the standard line many of them are told to say: she'd been in France just under three months (the max time you can stay without legal paperwork) and said she'd be going home in 15 days. However, as she said it, her eyes teared up. She smiled and said, "Life here is good for me." But that time, her beautiful smile was forced and broken.
My heart aches for this young woman and the men, women and children who are being mis-treated, have no family, or don't get to be with them. And at the same time I am thrilled that Christina and many others are reaching out.
Lord, what can I do? Who can I give Christmas chocolates to? I know there are people all around me, please give me your eyes to see...
*Christina is not her real name
