A Guest Post from Sarah Ann at Faith Along the Way

The Christmas tunes were blaring as I rolled home from Black Friday shopping, my car loaded with purchases for loved ones.

Still basking in the glow of the Thanksgiving festivities from the day before, satiated in both spirit and stomach, I was feeling deeply blessed.

As I pulled to the stop light mere miles from where my warm home awaited me, I saw him.

Shakily holding the sign, “Will Work for Food”, he looked full of despair and without hope.

I quickly averted my eyes but my happy attitude vanished in the blink of an eye.

If I am being honest, this was not the first time I’d seen him.  Many times I’ve pretended to look at my phone instead of meeting his weary gaze or simply imagined I could see through him, happy and content to be in my own world.

But not that day.

That day was different.

It stirred within me shame that I’ve become one of the masses.

As a society we are too comfortable, too complacent, too at ease in our safe little bubble without truly looking at the issues around the globe.

As a society we are content to be ignorant and pretend as though the problems of the world don’t exist.

As a society we are desensitized and want to rest our heads without deep thought to the pain of those around us.

When we as a society truly open our eyes, we’ll see that there is so much more than our vapid day to day.

There is hurt.  There is pain. There is heartache.  There is fear.

We’re surrounded by those silently pleading for help and longing for someone to show them hope.

Friends, as a society, we need to open our eyes and notice those who need the gift of hope.

More importantly, we need to take action.

Let’s pledge to extend a helping hand and bring hope to the lives of the hurting this Christmas.

Hope can be found in many ways.

Hope is in a new warm jacket for a child in need.

Hope is in anonymous monetary donation that will keep the heat on this winter.

Hope is in the bag of groceries left on the door stoop of a bankrupt family.

Hope is forgiving a wrong that cut to the core but the forgiveness will free the entire family.

Hope is in the kind word and smile to a stranger who is suffering in silence.

Hope is visiting the elderly neighbor who has no family left.

Hope is a hand-written note to a friend giving thanks for friendship and support.

Most importantly, hope is pointing the hopeless to the manger, but knowing that the story doesn’t end there.

Hope is found at the foot of the cross, where our defeated spirits are exchanged for a heart fully restored by the grace of Christ. {Want to know more about the hope of grace?  Visit here.}

As you go through the hustle and bustle of the season, hurriedly shopping, wrapping, and baking, remember to keep your eyes open and be ready and willing to give hope.

For me, I am taking a simple step of faith and creating a Blessing Bag to give to that poor, weathered soul I saw down the street. It contains some basic necessities, and more importantly a letter describing how to have a personal relationship with the one true hope, Jesus}.

My eyes and heart have been opened and my spirit awakened.  I will look for pain in those around me and try to bring hope to them in even the simplest of ways.

You have the opportunity to do the same; to extend hope to the hopeless and be a light in someone’s darkened world.

As you search for ways to bless others, remember that it doesn’t have to be to someone in your own community.

Women in India will benefit from you simply by buying gifts from the shop, AshaBelle.  The online store allows the women of Zakhira to create pieces to sell and then generate income from their products.  This amazing ministry gives the women hope that they can help support their families in the slums, and shows them the beauty of Christ’s love and faithfulness. Be sure to visit this inspiring site and give the gift of stability to women around the world.

Will you join me this Christmas in spreading hope and encouragement where it’s needed? Will you look up and around for who needs a helping hand?  What other ways can you give the gift of hope this season?  After all, it’s truly the best gift to give!