Psalm 126 NSRV

When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.

Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then it was said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.”

The Lord has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.

Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like the watercourses in the Negeb.

May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy.

Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves.

One month after her wedding day, 33-year-old Cami Walker was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Her condition soon left her barely able to walk and put enormous strain on her new marriage. She fell into a deep depression. Then, Cami received an uncommon prescription from a friend, an African medicine woman named Mbali Creazzo: Give away 29 gifts in 29 days.

The gifts, she said, could be anything, but they needed to be authentic and mindful. Cami began her first day of giving with the gift of a simple phone call. You can read the rest of Cami Walker’s 29 day journey in her inspirational book, 29 Gifts. She is also the founder of a global giving movement whose mission is to revive the spirit of giving in the world. Her site, www.29gifts.org now has nearly 10,000 members.

I would love to say that this exercise cured her disease, but it didn’t. It did, however change her focus from what she was losing to what she could offer the world. She describes her personal transformation as miraculous.

We all carry burdens. Sometimes it’s nearly impossible to see beyond our own pain. I wonder what transformations might occur if even through our own tears, we too could sow seeds of love and kindness.

Prayer: Loving God, Thank you for the gift of giving. Help us to seek out places of need in our world, so we might work to make it a better place for all of your children. Amen.

Laine Riley

Associate Director of Music