Ok, so I have this friend that I just absolutely adore. Truth is I have several but this one I have to say is one of the ones that I don't have to look up to while standing next to her. Literally. She's just my height but she is bigger than life. When I actually got to meet her while in Austin almost 2 months ago now, I was actually shocked at her height. I was certain that she was 9 feet tall. Seriously. She comes off bigger than life when you read her words. But alas, she's a 9 ft tall woman stuck in a 5'2" body. Full of heart, love, spunkiness, and all about spreading Jesus to the least of these. (I actually met 5 or 6 ladies that weekend that meet this criteria and loved every one of them) I love her heart. I love the way she just goes for the gusto. No holding back. No holds barred. There is no territory she us unwilling to go for the glory of God. So, when I read her blog post just a bit ago, I knew I had to help her spread the word. This is important. This is necessary. This isn't helping just one organization, this is helping 2. Because Every Mother Matters (BEMM) and Project Hopeful. This is helping women, mamas, keep their babies. Can you imagine having to make a desperate decision to give up your child because you couldn't make money to support them and there are no government assistance programs? Or there was no hope for you because of three letters and a sign~ HIV+ ? All because you couldn't get the medicines to prolong your life? The truth of the matter is, HIV is something that can be managed. HIV can only be transmitted through s*xual intercourse, sharing needles, syringes, rinse water, or other equipment used to prepare illicit dr*gs for injection or from mother to child during child birth or breastfeeding. (jump here or here or here if you are interested in reading more about HIV/AIDS). No one, NOT ONE MOTHER should have to choose between life and death for their child. NOT ONE MOTHER should have to give up their child because they can't get the medicine to help them live. I know, we live in a fallen world. Mothers and fathers will die because of this and give up their children because money can't be made, or because they have something wrong with them, and the list goes on and on. But what if they didn't have to? What if because people like you and me, gave up $5 or $10 or $100 of what would help make us comfortable and gave to what would make a difference in someone else's life. A child's life. A family's life. Think how you would feel if you lost your mom? If she had to make that dreaded decision to give you life while she lost hers?
I'm not trying to badger you or guilt you into giving to either of these programs. I'm not asking you to do this for me. I'm asking you to look outside of yourself, to actually put yourself in one of these mama's shoes and really consider what you would do. I have been walking this road. I've been asking myself these questions because I have had to. So, I am asking you to really think about it. If this were you having to make these decisions, would you want someone on the other side of the world, who didn't know you, but could be the hand of Jesus, helping you? Let me ask it in this way: What if it were you who was dieing of cancer and your only hope was a bone marrow transplant? What if the only match was someone sitting in (I'll let you fill in the blank since I don't know where you live but make it on the other side of the world)? Would you want them to do it for you? If the answer is yes, then the answer should be yes to helping these mamas. The answer should be yes to choosing to give life even to someone you don't know.
I know it's the holiday season. Thanksgiving is next week. Then we go on to celebrate Christmas, the birth of our Saviour. We are all thinking about what we want to have under that Christmas tree this year. Isn't the greatest gift we can give is the gift of life? The gift of a family being able to stay together? We have been given life and if you are a follower of Jesus, you have it abundantly.
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." John 10:10
I believe that this would bless the Father's heart. That's the desire of my heart today is to bless Him abundantly.
STWTHE,
Laurie
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