I am the queen of the Christmas list. Just ask my mother. A minimum of five pages, organized by category and in order of importance. However, since becoming more aware of the needs in the world around me, it’s been harder to think just of me and all the things I want. I feel selfish focusing on them when I know that there are children in many places without clean drinking water or a single pair of shoes.
Years ago, when a song like My Grown Up Christmas List, I would roll my eyes and endure the next few minutes until the radio played something far better…like I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas, for example. Today, I see the song differently, and not just because Michael Buble recorded it. I understand now the importance of every man having a friend and the desire that right would always win.
I understand that the needs can be overwhelming, so I decided to give you a head start. I have created a grown up Christmas list of organizations that are making a difference around the world. These are only a few that I could recommend, but hopefully it will help you make positive purchasing and donating choices in the new year. I encourage you to take some time during your upcoming vacation days to visit the following links, and to contribute to their efforts as you are able.
Sole Hope – providing fair wages to shoemakers to provide shoes to children to protect them from life-threatening jigger infestations in their feet.
Blood Water Mission – fighting HIV/AIDS and the water crisis in Africa
Ornaments 4 Orphans – selling handcrafted ornaments to provide benefits for orphans in Uganda
Eternal Threads – providing income generating projects for village women in India, Madagascar, Nepal, Afghanistan, Africa, Asia, and other places around the world
Pure Charity – funding non-profit projects to advance human justice and hope around the world
Give Generation – promoting trendy brands that give back to worthy causes around the globe
World Renew – working in some of the world’s most difficult places to help people overcome disaster, fight injustice, and renew hope for a better future
Additional organizations specifically fighting trafficking and assisting trafficking victims can be found by visiting my pages online stores and organizations under the slavery heading.
I know that money is tight for many of us, myself included. But sometimes all you need to encourage you in your circumstances is to take your eyes off of them and consider what you can do for someone else. I hope that this is a help to you as you seek to show the love of Jesus this holiday season.
Merry Christmas!
Photo credit: Mark J P / Foter.com / CC BY-NC-ND