Christmas week is finally here. The anticipation and excitement culminates on Friday, December 25th. This truly is my favorite time of the year. I love it all; manger scenes, Christmas Eve services, presents, lights, food, movies, music, ornaments, and desserts. My fondest memories typically revolve around this time of year.
This time of year is also a great time for reflection. We should look back at our past as we look forward to our future. Reflection is healthy and needed in today’s society. I am afraid that reflection, however, has become a thing of the past or an action that only the elderly should spend time doing. This is a sad state we find ourselves in, because when reflection is neglected, a society finds itself lost, for there is no future without the past.
I like to reflect by making lists, hence the title of today’s entry. You are not going to find, in this post, a list of my desires for trinkets, new clothes, new ties, or anything like that. The list I am providing today, instead, is a list based on reflection. Today I am thinking about the past while looking to the future. Today I am seeking to encourage us all as we long for better days. Today I simply want us all to come together and truly think about what it is we desire for this community, our state, our country, and our world. Reflection is oftentimes mocked and left for the more seasoned among us, but I implore you this week to reflect and maybe even put pen to paper and jot down your very own Christmas list.
My list starts at an obvious place. I wish, desire, for life to be celebrated. My heart breaks to know that since 1973 over 50 million babies have been taken via abortion. My heart breaks knowing that there are those in this country that wish to prey on the most vulnerable among us and set up “health” clinics in the heart of hurting communities. My heart breaks knowing that today 3,000 babies will have their life taken at one of these clinics. My heart is breaking but there is hope. There is hope because abortions are on the decline. There is hope because more and more people are beginning to see that life has value and these babies deserve a chance. There is hope because there are places like HOPE seeking to see the abortion epidemic ended. I long for a day where life is discussed for what it is and babies are given the respect they deserve. I long for a day where pro-life advocates are not mocked and ridiculed but instead are respected and welcomed to the life conversation. We are on the cusp of something special and I cannot wait to see what the future holds.
The next item on my Christmas list is for leaders to lead. We have seen, for quite some time, a lack of leadership from political figures in Washington DC. Our country is in the middle of a very dark and divisive time. Every issue is a polarizing one and every issue is pushing Americans further and further apart. Dinner cannot be had, birthdays cannot be celebrated, and holidays cannot be inviting because families and friends have become enemies. We have allowed the decisions, or lack of decisions, of a few to permeate our homes and drive a wedge between what we should hold dear. We should care deeply about what decisions are made in DC. We should be involved in the political process. We should, even, have discussions about the issues of the day. We, however, should not allow this involvement to shatter the foundations of our relationships. Hug your family this week and please don’t let the decisions of a few and opinions of your friends and family on a particular political issue fracture the love you have for said friends and family. We are better than that. We have been blessed to live in a country that is the champion for freedom and liberty. This means friends and family may disagree with you, but this is not the end of the world. I know it may be frustrating, but this shouldn’t be the mark you leave. Show your kids that reasonable men and women can debate and disagree without relationships being ended or tarnished. Leaders should be leading the way in this. I am talking to you here. We can sit back and wait for the leaders in DC to bring us together or we can be the leader in our circles and set this precedent ourselves. We can lead with a loving heart as we have meaningful conversations about the issues of the day without seeing our relationships torn apart.
The last item on my list is directly related to you and HOPE. My last wish for Christmas is for thousands to stand with us at HOPE. I want the world to see the amazing work our staff is doing on a daily basis. I want the world to see that we do this work without judgement or prejudice. We do not care if our patient is male or female, black or white, or Republican or Democrat. We simply care about their health and well-being. Many of our patients would disagree with us on spirituality, politics, or parenting, but HOPE’s staff keeps loving, caring, and serving. I wish for thousands to join us in this work. Join us with your prayers, your gifts, and your donations. We could not do what we do without you. We also will not be able to spread the word without you. HOPE is a place where hurting people are welcomed and broken people find healing. We are proud of that and my wish for years to come is for our supporters to multiply as lives are saved and transformed.
This list is not exhaustive, but it should give you a glimpse into what I desire for Christmas. Let this week be a joyous one for you and yours. Spend some time in reflection and think about what it is you truly want for Christmas. We hope you have an amazing, HOPE-filled day. From our family to yours, Merry Christmas!
posted by Andrew Wood, Executive Director of Hope Resource Center
