All I Want for Christmas

Maria (center) and 4 of her 5 children, with monthly food donation.

As the holiday season approaches, I’ve found my ears perking up when a moment of inspiration is spoken on the radio, or by an acquaintance. I heard the perfect phrase for the holiday season:
Don’t focus on what you don’t have, but instead, on what you can give.
Maria, the tiny mother shown (above) holding her gift to Finding Freedom board members, is doing just that. She is standing in her “house” which consists of a leaking tin roof, a dirt floor and until we purchased her a bed last month, no furniture. But look at her joy….she is giving instead of getting…and she is thrilled. For over a year Maria has been dependent on our volunteers to deliver food for her to feed her children. Our goal in providing this food is to prevent physical and mental stunting in Maria’s children.  
Maria knows that everyone has a talent to offer, and we made it clear when she joined our program that she would be required to give back in whatever way she was able. For her, this meant weaving a child’s huipil (Guatemalan shirt) as a thank-you to one of our board members. Maria doesn’t have the luxury of having a radio to listen to, but I think she understands the meaning of the phrase perfectly!