Day 5 ★ 12 Days of Giving
I work on my computer-a lot. Sometimes so much so that my computer gets overloaded, or full, and I have to re-boot it to get it to function properly again. I feel that as human beings, sometimes we can get overloaded and bogged down, just like my computer does. We can get so caught up in the day to day things to do, and places to be that suddenly our lives become too full. Sometimes it becomes necessary for us to stop…and reboot, in order to continue to function and continue to be productive.
Today I had the opportunity to do just that. Reboot. I got to sit and talk with a good friend over coffee and talk about what’s important in life. We talked about how each of us goes through life with certain expectations that are placed on each of us, (sometimes we place them on ourselves). And sometimes when you break it all down, the things we place heavy importance on, really aren’t that important at all. My friend told me it was when a good friend of hers got cancer that she began to really weigh what was important to her in her life. If we all truly lived like we had a day…a week…or even a year to live, I’m sure our lives would look very different. Needless to say, I left the coffee shop with a renewed outlook on my life and what I want to get out of it…and what I want to put into it, as well.
Continuing on with the theme of this series of giving back and evaluating what’s important to you, I ask you this question. If you had less than a month left in this life, what would you do with it? I know this is a question we’ve all been asked at one point or another, but it’s a good question to come back to. I know people that have dedicated their lives to serving others. Not all of us were meant to live in another country helping those less fortunate, but I think we all have something to give, don’t we? We all have the ability to give a little time to someone who just needs a friend. For me, I know I need to give more of my time to my husband and children. It doesn’t cost much, and yet it really is our most precious commodity, isn’t it? Just watch the movie In Time and that will really put it in perspective for you. And for those of us that have been blessed with more…we can give back. “…to whom much is given, of him shall much be required…” Luke 12:48
I mention in my bio on this 
website that I have loved photography ever since I was little girl. One of my favorite things to do as a kid was to get down my Mom’s old photo albums from the top of the closet and look at pictures for hours. My favorites were the old family photos and pictures from my parents mission trips from before I was born. I was always especially drawn to the photos of their time in Africa. I loved the rows and rows of colorful beads and jewelry the women wore. This may have also had something to do with the fact that I was conceived there. 
I have always joked that I was “Made in Africa”. But sincerely, Africa tugs at my heartstrings, and I truly desire to go there one day.
My brother, Nat, was able to 
Uganda a few years ago and here are some of the drawings he drew while he was there. He hooked up with a ministry called Favor of God that started in 2005 in response to the most horrific war in African history. They work in Gulu, Uganda, and their goal is to “see revival in all areas of life – spiritual, physical, social, emotional, economic, academic, and moral…and to continue to reach out throughout northern Uganda and in the neighboring countries of southern Sudan and D.R. Congo where the LRA are again very active and causing unimaginable devastation.”
Another amazing organization that has sprouted in Gulu, Uganda is Zion Project, who’s goal is to liberate girls and women survivors from the destructive environments of sexual exploitation and to aide in their healing. They help protect the lives of girls and women that otherwise might be exploited by the global sex trade. They then educate and empower these women and girls through alternative employment. Out of Zion Project has come Imani. This one is really cool because not only do you get to help support these girls and women, you get to bring home amazing, hand-crafted, one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry! You have got to check it out to see for yourself! These pieces are amazing! And you can actually still order them until Dec. 19th or 20th and receive them in time for Christmas! How cool is that?? I think this would make amazing last minute Christmas gifts for your Mom, sister, daughter, friend…any lady would love them!
If you are unable to order any jewelry right now, but would still like to support them, you can make a donation, or another really cool opportunity, you can join the Imani Club. This is a win-win opportunity because you get to send support to these girls in the form of $25 a month and you get huge discounts off this beautiful, hand-crafted jewelry, free shipping, and gifts in the mail in return. SO COOL! And I mean come on, $25 a month is less than a soda or coffee a day, less than one meal eating out, less than getting your nails done…the list goes on. SO worth it.
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This entry was posted on Friday, December 16th, 2011 at 9:44 pm. It is filed under Uncategorized.
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