It’s that time of year again. The hustle and bustle of getting everything done for Christmas. Everywhere you look, people are rushing around looking for deals and shopping, shopping, shopping. It’s the time of year when kids' eyes are filled with wonder of what they’ll get under the tree. Parents enjoy a cup of hot chocolate as they watch their children drawing or leafing through a catalogue to figure out what to get that little friend at school. Maybe they're practicing lines for a pageant for school or church.
Always so much to do and so little time.
During this time of year, our street friends usually feel slightly pushed aside. Who is getting them a present? What will they do for a Christmas meal?
The best present any of us could give would be to pray for them. Pray for safety. Pray for a warm spot to stay. Pray for that warm meal. For some of them, they are not allowed at shelters for various reasons. What about them?
This is one of the reasons why OIM is so important to them on different levels. We pray for our friends and with our friends. We give them that meal that they wouldn’t otherwise get. We make the time every day, every week, to connect, but on the holidays, those red vests mean so much more. It means we care enough to be there, no matter what.
During this Christmas season, may we all take the time to remember to pray for those who will be on the street. May we remember how much the sandwiches are appreciated when we're making them for street outreach.
Everything you do for OIM means so much to those our teams meet each night. Thank you!
~ Elizabeth, IVOS Associate
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