From Bah Humbug to Blessed

Dear Friends of New Beginnings,
I hope and pray that you and yours had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Do you have any Thanksgiving Day traditions that just must happen? For my family, it's at the beginning of the delicious dinner we are about to eat. We begin with the Lord's Prayer and then each one of us shares what we are most thankful for that year. Finally, we raise a glass and toast to everyone's thankfulness saying, "And God bless us! Everyone!" It's something I look forward to every year because it is good to be reminded of God's goodness and grace. 

In Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol", Ebenezer Scrooge is anything but thankful. He is stingy, greedy, and for all intents and purposes, clearly loves money more than people. It isn't until three Christmas spirits (past, present, and future) come to him in his sleep and show him the costly result of his money-loving ways, that he makes a complete turnaround. One minute he is miserable and miserly, and then the next he is dancing with merriment through the streets of London giving money to charities and more than providing for his employee Bob Cratchit's family. For the rest of his days Scrooge is generous with his time, heart, and his deep pockets... and so very thankful that his old ways are behind him.

---

At this time of year, it's hard to think about giving anything extra to anyone except our immediate families, and sometimes not even them. We get so wrapped up in all the busyness of the season that we forget to stop and think about what it's really all about. Jesus was born amid the livestock, wrapped in cloth and placed in a feeding trough! He was dirt poor. He entered the world like that, so that he could leave it on our behalf, giving himself over to the cross for our terrible sins.1 John 3:16 says, "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters." Laying down our lives for our brothers and sisters is not just literal, it's figurative as well. When we see someone in need, Christ’s love moves us to help them. Our thought should not be, "I guess I have to help", but "I am privileged and humbled to help."

---

R with her daughter baby H, born on November 12th!

Our mothers at New Beginnings witness this kind of giving and generosity every day. Because of you, they have a warm bed to sleep in, clothes for their babies, safety and security, and so much more. You have helped to give them hope and a future. We want to help even more mothers and babies experience the hope and transformation that come through our ministry. We already have plans and property to build a 12-unit apartment building with all the amenities to help these moms thrive. 

Currently, we have raised $2,060,504.83 through the generosity of so many, but to break ground this coming May as planned, we need to raise an additional $2,300,000.
Will you please consider helping us make this dream become a reality?

Whether it is $1.00 or $1,000, from the bottom of my heart, I am truly grateful for anything you are moved to give.

Merry Christmas, and God Bless Us, EVERYONE!
Mrs. Ruth Westphal
​Program and Ministry Care Manager

---