We arrived back in Cincinnati around 11 pm last night. It was so strange to have been in the slums of the "ravine" in Port-au-Prince at 10 am that morning and have the ability to take a hot shower in my own home that night. The silence here last night was deafening. At Sherrie's the noises of the night from the surrounding city were the sounds of loud music, fire works/gun shots, and Snoopy and Shep (their two dogs) barking at anything strange. I awoke this morning to an alarm clock. You don't need an alarm clock there - the roosters wake you up each morning. In fact, you don't have much need for a clock at all there. You get up when you need to, you eat when the meal is ready, you go to bed when it is dark and you are tired. In between you serve and work together as a family to do what is needed.
There you go to sleep at night under a mosquito net, with December temperatures of high 70s/low80s and the noises of the night. You lay down at night feeling blessed to have spent the day doing God's work. Here you sleep under nice, cushy blankets, no bugs, and no noises. And, too often, you fall asleep without the satisfaction of truly doing the Lord's work that day. We get far too busy in our daily lives here in America. Our days are managed by our calendars, and our pace doesn't allow us to enjoy the many blessings we have been given.
As Christmas quickly approaches this week, let's remember why we celebrate this day and this season. It is the birth of our Savior. This season is not meant to be about buying expensive presents, but about love and kindness. The gifts we should be concerned about giving are those that come from the heart, through our hands and feet in service to others. There is nothing else more pleasing to God.
Until next time:
Merry Christmas! May God show you His blessings in a mighty way this season.
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