1. I’m painting! 2. I painted a canvas! 3. Working the @compassion table @HillsongLive concert & praying these children get sponsors 4. Love this!

One advantage of living near a large city is the easy availability of big name concerts and major fine arts productions, especially at Christmas time. Here’s a glimpse of what we’ve already done or are going to do.

Last Sunday night my husband and I attended a Hillsong Live concert and worked the Compassion International table with another local couple, also Compassion sponsors. (Read the story of our Compassion child here.) To be honest, I’m not really familiar with Hillsong and only walked into the concert and stood in the back a couple of times. I was there hoping to connect some Compassion kids with sponsors. More than hoping, I was praying, praying for these children and the people who could make such a difference in their lives.

Four hours later: nothing. Four volunteers manned that table for four hours and not one single child was sponsored. Honestly, I was discouraged and more than a little disgusted. We sat right next to the table selling t-shirts and almost no one stopped at our table or looked at those precious, needy little faces on the sponsorship cards displayed there.

Perspective came later: How often do I stare want in the face and walk on by? Too often to feel angry when others do the same.

Last night my husband and I attended A Christmas Carol at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta. They should hand out Kleenex at the door. More than once, tears ran down my face and dripped off my chin. I can’t think of a better way to begin the Christmas season than to see this play.

Next Thursday night three of the kids and I will attend The Story Tour: A Christmas Spectacular at Philips Arena. I’ll be writing more about it this weekend, but for now I want to share with you this link for the Family 4 Pack, which includes 4 lower-level tickets, 4 hot dogs, and 4 Coca-Cola products for $100 (a savings of $34!).

If you’re downtown you really should check out the Picasso to Warhol exhibit at the High Museum, and while you’re there do not miss the Grainger McKoy exhibit of bird sculptures (it’s in the 2nd building at the High, accessed either through the 3rd floor skywalk or by walking across the courtyard). This is an especially good one for sons (or husbands) who don’t think they like art.

What did your camera phone capture this week?

Sponsor a Child

Here’s more about Compassion International and what sponsoring a child provides. Click the big banner below to get started and please come back and tell me if you do!

Your tax-deductible contribution of just $38 a month connects your child with a loving, church-based Child Sponsorship Program that provides:

• Food and clean water
• Medical care
• Educational opportunities
• Important life-skills training
• Most important of all, your sponsored child will hear about Jesus Christ and be encouraged to develop a lifelong relationship with God.

When you sponsor a child, you’ll receive your child’s photo, personal story and a child sponsorship packet by mail in approximately 15 days.

When children find out they’ve been sponsored, the joy they feel is indescribable. Just knowing that someone across the globe cares means more than you can imagine. Sponsoring a child will profoundly change the future for your child, and will change your own life as well.