Blessed beyond belief!

Life is all about perspective. Sometimes I can get so caught up in my own little life: my own to-do lists, my own worries, my own issues and forget how incredibly blessed I am. I often complain about little things, or sulk about things that are SO unimportant. (Lord, forgive me for that!) Then I read a newsletter or a blog written by my dear friend Rachel (whom I have yet to meet, but still have so much love and respect for!!), and my life is so quickly put back into perspective and I am ashamed by my self-centeredness and selfishness.

I am so grateful that my dear Sister-in-law Kathy helped me to get to know Rachel: an incredible young woman who is serving God by training Haitian women in the Dominican Republic to create beautiful jewellery. She started an art co-op for women who were in desperate need of a job so they could feed their children and wouldn't have to dig through garbage bags for refuse to eat and feed to their families. Her dream was to teach these women to create beautiful things with their own two hands that "rich people" from Canada would want to purchase! To bring dignity to these women who most often had to resort to prostitution as the only means to financially support their children. Because of her obedience to Jesus, she was willing to move away from her family and friends in her early twenties and to give her life in service to these women that she loves so much!! She has even become 'mom' to two beautiful children who needed care and has taken them into her heart and her home as her own family.

I'm not sure that I would have been so willing to sacrifice so much when I was that age (or now?!). It is such an honour to be able to support Rachel by selling the jewellery here in Canada (e-mail me if you'd like to see purchase some of the beautiful jewellery and help these women in the DR). It is such a small thing that I can do, but I'm so glad that I can help her in her mission to these women.

Please check out her website at http://www.latienda.moonfruit.com/ or read about her experience at her blog at: http://www.xanga.com/from_the_island. I promise that reading about how Rachel is reaching out to these women with the love of Christ WILL change you, and your perspective on your own life...it has to.

Lord remind me to focus on what is really important in my life. It is so easy to become swept up in the cyclone of consumerism and busyness and to lose sight of what really matters. The one thing you've been teaching me lately (or for ages now...I'm a slow learner), is that it's not about TRYING harder (to be a better wife, a better friend, a better mom, a better child of God), it's about surrendering to You. Letting You mould my life. Giving up my own selfish obsessions and focusing on You.

Thank you for reminding me.

Mel