Kimberly's Christmas List

Ashley and I recently discussed our Christmas Lists and she mentioned wanting "gifts" from the World Vision Gift Catalogue (as she noted in the previous post). Mom had requested this same thing last year and was quite pleased with her gift of ducks (ok, she was pleased as soon we told her that they would not be arriving at her house...yes, we did originally imply that we bought ducks for her own personal use...). Now back to Ashley. If you know her, you know that her request this year is not out of character. Her life is an incredible example of selfless sacrifice and I strive to become more like her. She has always emanated Mom in this area. I am so grateful for two amazing godly examples!

If you've talked to me in the last month or so, you would know that thoughts of Christmas have been prominent in my mind for several weeks now. Christmas music has been playing since somewhere in mid-October. One song that has been played more than most this season is Grown-Up Christmas List (the Michael Bublé version is a particular favorite). We are so incredibly blessed and it helps me to remember that fact when I become too self-focused. Here are the lyrics those of you who aren't familiar...

Do you remember me?
I sat upon your knee
I wrote to you with childhood fantasies
Well, I'm all grown-up now
Can you still help somehow?
I'm not a child, but my heart still can dream

So here's my lifelong wish
My grown-up Christmas list
Not for myself, but for a world in need

No more lives torn apart
That wars would never start
And time would heal all hearts
Every man would have a friend
That right would always win
And love would never end
This is my grown-up Christmas list

What is this illusion called the innocence of youth?
Maybe only in that blind belief can we ever find the truth

No more lives torn apart
That wars would never start
And time would heal our hearts
Every man would have a friend
That right would always win
And love would never end

This is my grown-up Christmas list
This is my only lifelong wish
This is my grown-up Christmas list

So...here is (a portion) of my Grown-Up Christmas List:

Hope for sexually exploited girls

This issue is particularly dear to my heart. The brokenness that these young girls experience is indescribable. Hope is their only chance of survival.

"An estimated 2 million children are enslaved and abused in the global commercial sex trade — most of them girls. Many children are sold into prostitution to pay off family debts or forcibly recruited from the street to work in brothels."

Education for Girls

I am a firm believer that education is key to changing a person's circumstance. I was so blessed to have parents who made certain that I receive the education necessary to achieve my dreams. These precious girls deserve no less...

"Education is critical in equipping girls and women to overcome poverty. Yet in developing countries, half the girls of primary school age cannot attend classes. Some work to help their families, or stay home to care for siblings. Others lack money for school fees."