Christmas Giving

There's a jealous, evil, murderer in the Christmas story.  His name was Herod.

This article goes into much more depth, but let me summarize.  

• Herod didn't want anyone else to be king. 
• When Jesus was born Herod felt threatened, there was a new "King of the Jews" and Herod didn't like it one bit.  
• He was a ruthless ruler and on more than one occasion had innocent people murdered. 

"His paranoia was legendary. He was afraid one of his two sons might take his throne, so he murdered both of them. ...In one of the final acts of his evil life, he had all the distinguished citizens of Jerusalem put in prison and commanded that they be slaughtered the moment he died. 'These people will not weep when I die,' he said, 'and I want them weeping, even if they weep over someone else.' So even at his death there was a great slaughter." From GTY.org

Yeah. What a guy. It gets worse.

Back to when Jesus was born and Herod was trying to hunt him down and kill him, he sent the magi to find Jesus and come back and tell him where the baby was so that he could kill him.  
In an act of what I suppose was ancient times civil disobedience, the magi refused.  Jesus, Mary and Joseph escaped to another country. To return home, where Herod ruled, would be certain death. They were refugees. He was already killing all male babies.  

"Herod was furious when he realized that the wise men had outwitted him. He sent soldiers to kill all the boys in and around Bethlehem who were two years old and under, based on the wise men’s report of the star’s first appearance." (Matthew 2:16)

It struck me the other day...if we are truly going to live the spirit of Christmas, we will be loving and supporting refugees. 

After all, our Savior was one.  

BULENT KILIC/AFP/Getty Images

And so, today, Christmas Day, I looked around my living room. I saw our beautiful tree and fireplace; our happy, safe children; our lovely presents. And I thought.

I thought about the families who aren't together this year.  

• About the children forced to leave their homes.
• About the hungry, scared, injured.
• About those who aren't as lucky as I have been.

And I did something about it.  
Today I donated to a religious charity in my home state that supports refugees.  They help with housing, visas, learning English, and more.

If, like me, you are feeling called to help others in the name of Jesus, our King who was first a refugee, please give.

Bulent Kilic/AFP/Getty Images

Not sure where to start? Here's a list of highly rated charities that help refugees.  Some are non-religious, some are Christian based (such as World Vision).  

Click photo to enlarge. Courtesy of CharityWatch.org

Thanks for listening to my heart.  I hope all who read this will have a wonderful Christmas with their loved ones.

P.S. **We understand that many refugees do not share our Christian faith.  Jesus does not tell us to feed and clothe only other Christians. He simply tells us to feed and clothe those in need.  Perhaps by seeing the love of Jesus lived out they may one day turn to Him. Regardless, I am committed to living my faith without condition.