When our children need a pair of shoes (or two), we travel to Target or the Oviedo Mall and buy the shoes for them. It is a short drive, with the most time spent mulling over which pair to buy. Once that decision is made, we simply take the shoes to the cashier, hand over our American Express, and the shoes are ours. It is an easy process.
Here in La Paz, the process is not so easy. Today, when families all over America sat down to celebrate Thanksgiving,the children of La Paz walked from miles around to wait for the start of Operation Barefoot. Many walked in tattered shoes, or in some case,none at all. They came early to wait their turn for a pair of new shoes and socks provided by the congregation of St. Luke's and the Orlando area. One by one, they were called, and sat as their feet were washed and a new pair of shoes fitted. For a brief time at least, joy overcame them and it was as if they received an early Christmas present. They had a reason to be thankful.
We are so blessed in America and have many reasons to be thankful every day. Here, it is often difficult to find those reasons. The Bible says to give thanks in all circumstances, though in practice this is often a challenging instruction. The children of La Paz were thankful today, as were we.
Please keep in your prayers children in need everywhere. Happy Thanksgiving.
Michael and Cheryl Begey
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