We Bought a Goat...

We Bought a Goat...

and two chickens.  Don't worry, we are not starting a farm!  After the rabbit post, you might be wondering!  It was for World Vision, to help provide for families in need.  I'm only telling you this for a couple reasons:

I've been very convicted about giving this year, particularly since I finished reading Jen Hatmaker's book, Seven and Katie Davis' Kisses from Katie.  I highly recommend reading these books if you haven't already.  When you truly realize how much we have been given in relation to the rest of the world, it's hard not to think differently.  But it is also very hard to put your good intentions into practice.  We decided to try to make giving more of a priority this Christmas (and I don't mean just to our own kids!)  It has been way harder than I thought it would be.  I still spent way more than I intended on our own family.

So when I talked to the hubs about the goat (about the same time I was getting ready to order Christmas cards), he suggested that I take the money I was going to use for the Christmas cards and buy the goat instead.  I'm not going to lie, that was really hard for me.  I always send out a photo Christmas card!  I wanted to buy the goat, but I still wanted to send my cards!  It's easy for me to throw some change in the Salvation Army bucket and feel like I "gave," but when giving requires sacrifice, it's so much harder to do.

In the end, the goat won out.  And the chickens.  I tell this story, not for a pat on the back, but in hopes that perhaps you too will realize that we have been blessed sooo very much compared to so many others in the world.  I know many of you have already been doing a much better job at this than I have been doing and I am late to the party, but giving globally is new to me and I'm excited about doing it. 

So, for those of you who usually get a card in the mail from me, consider this your Christmas greeting.  (Don't worry Mom - you will still get printed pictures!) May we remember our many blessings, especially the gift of God's Son.  I hope you have a wonderful Christmas!!!