2012: A Year to Remember
IF THERE EVER WAS A YEAR WORTH REMEMBERING, IT WAS 2012.
But if you’re anything like me, it’s so easy to let the loudness of life—the perpetual busyness, the multi-tasking, and the to-do list a mile long—to overshadow the moments that make our journey through life worth it in the first place.
Sometimes I have to see to remember. So I began looking through the images that were captured from last year’s travels—from conferences and colleges in the U.S. to the impoverished communities of developing countries all around the world.
With each photograph, a flood of memories washed over me. Beginning with Operation Baby Rescue (OBR), I thought of the dozens of babies our team helped rescue while in Guatemala—each one of their little faces lighting up in my mind, each one with a story.
I saw their young mothers weeping with joy and relief. I saw the tired eyes of a father come to life as a nurse leaned over to say, “She’s going to make it.”
From the bright lights of a stage, I saw the faces of hundreds of college students from all over the country eager to become a part of this extraordinary movement that is saving the lives of children.
I saw small groups sipping coffee and excitedly planning Rescue Nights. I saw advocates who were passionate about the destitute and about bringing justice for the marginalized and forgotten.
But the impact wasn’t just limited to rescuing babies. I saw stay-at-home moms joining forces with young professionals, grandparents, and elementary school kids to find ways to fight poverty from a world away. This Christmas, they generously gave to provide chickens, fruit trees, clean water wells, and so much more through Gifts of Hope . . . gifts that transformed families and communities alike.
LOOKING BACK ON 2012, I SAW THAT EACH AND EVERY MOMENT MADE UP AN INCREDIBLE PICTURE OF WHAT CHANGING THE WORLD REALLY MEANS. IT’S THE LITTLE MOMENTS THAT COUNT.
Although I’m involved in so many projects and causes, it seemed fitting that the year began and ended with my eyes on Operation Baby Rescue. With your overwhelming support, we finished the year big—raising the funds to rescue 347 children suffering from malnutrition, disease, and abject poverty. And the world is taking notice.
The January/February issue of Christianity Today highlights the miracle of OBR in a featured story entitled “The Great Tiny Baby Rescue.” It’s a look back to OBR’s remarkable 2012 chapter, with a glimpse of what’s in store for 2013 . . . The perfect way to reflect on what has truly been “A Year of Hope” in the lives of so many children.
I’m taking these moments and all these unforgettable memories with me into 2013. With flashes of creativity that propelled us through challenges, moments of kindness given and received, tears shed, laughter shared, and lives changed . . . it’s these moments that stay with us.
That’s why remembering is so important. It makes us move. It makes us invest. It makes us hope.
What will 2013 look like for you? Are you ready to make it memorable? Start by making a difference in someone’s life today. Even if you forget . . . they never will.
MAY 2013 BE YOUR BEST YEAR YET!