There but for the Grace of God...

We’re back in Guatemala working hard to prepare for our 2024 Good News Celebrations.

We’ll bless hundreds of children and dozens of families before we’re done.

And our final meal of the season will be shared along with a proclamation of Jesus’ Love.

For the past month or so, we’ve been in the United States.

It’s easy to point out the differences between the greatest nation and a less blessed country.

Like how comfortable a heated apartment was, even on a sub-freezing Washington morning.

Back in Guatemala, I shivered through my wake-up ritual in our drafty 54-degree home.

Single-pane windows with uninsulated doors and roofs make for some frosty Guatemalan mornings.

Other things are the same here as they are in the United States.

Just like Guatemala, some folks are struggling to get by in circumstances we can’t imagine.

We took time last week to speak with and bless some homeless folks in Washington, D.C.

Their stories are as tragic as those we hear in our neighborhood.

Hardship isn’t any easier because of better social programs or shelters.

There is the same despair in their voices regardless of the whys, hows, and wheres.

Nobody plans to be in those situations, and certainly, they are not satisfied with their lot.

Providing some temporary respite with cash or food is a worthy exercise.

But it does not erase the pain, anguish, or anxiety of being in need.

When I reflect on life, I realize how close I’ve come to being on the receiving side of our charity.

“There but for the Grace of God goes I” is true for all of us no matter how comfortable life seems.

Thinking about how your life can be more difficult isn’t a spirit-crushing exercise.

Such ponderings always leave me more thankful and gracious about things.

They also motivate me to be kinder and share more with others.

That’s why I encourage you to take some time to visit a food bank, orphanage, or shelter this month.

Then think about how a little twist of fate could have drastically changed your lot in life.

Such an experience can put things in perspective and help you better appreciate what you have.

And trust me when I tell you it will make your holidays brighter.