Thanksgiving

by Adriana Ciobanu

During this last month of the year I feel challenged, of course, to look back at the year that has passed, the moments of joy and encouragement, but also those of sadness and despair. I pause especially with Luke’s Gospel, which speaks an exceptional testimony about Jesus – the man who was born, dependent on his mother, fragile and helpless He chose this world, He chose us! He limited himself, but at the same time gave himself freedom so that He could talk with us, walk among us, cry with us and for us.

The verses from Mary’s song in the first chapter of Luke fascinate me each time I return to them and resonate deep in my heart and mind:

“But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?”

“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!”

“Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

 “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
 for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
    holy is his name.
His mercy extends to those who fear him,
    from generation to generation.
 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
    he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones
    but has lifted up the humble.
 He has filled the hungry with good things
    but has sent the rich away empty.”

Rich or poor, hunger or satisfied, proud or humble we all desperately need His steadfast love, mercy and grace. And all of these we have experienced, day after day, in our community: we rejoiced in the children who came to our program with great joy, their families who sought to get to know us better, all the donations and support we received, the prayers of good folks who stuck with us and fought alongside us.

We praise God and encourage you to continue to pray with us!

  • We are in prayer for a 16-year-old girl who will experience the pains of childbirth next month and then the weight of raising this child.
  • We are in prayer for Sergiu, a 16-year-old boy who has spent half a year in and out of various hospitals, struggling with the diagnosis of liver cancer.
  • We are in prayer for families who don’t have sufficient resources to raise their children.
  • We are in prayer for the saddest, like ourselves!

Merry Christmas!