My "Real life" Example

I racked my brain trying to come up with someone who I've witnessed live the authentic Christian life and sadly found it difficult. However the one person I repeatedly kept coming back to was my own child Alicia. I didn't respond right away because it is nothing I deserve the credit for. As proud as I am, I am in no way worthy of the bragging rights. Sure, Chris and I have decent parenting skills but her life is what it is because of the grace of God and her choice of obedience to Him.

I first witnessed this life lived out by Alicia in Kindergarten when a classmate lost his mother a few months prior to Easter. They were talking about Easter baskets and this boy mentioned that he didn't receive one. Without hesitation that day Alicia came home and emptied her basket and kept a few things for herself (granted she was 6)and put her basket back together and brought it to give to this child. She didn't ask permission, she just did it. A few years later we read an article in our local paper about a dead beat dad leaving his family to suffer financially and put in a position to go without Christmas. Alicia got on the phone to family and friends and started collecting donations. Within a weeks time we were at their door step with Christmas gifts for the kids that Alicia picked out herself, grocery gift cards and an envelope with a sponsorship to play baseball for the son who loved it and wasn't going to be able to afford to play that year.

Her whole life she has been this way. Sometimes it's her nature but more often it's her choice. She has always chosen to go without so others could have. Last year she could have sold her car and kept the money or used it for school but instead she had a friend in need and gave her car away to her. That's just who she is. She intentionally lives a God and others first life and it's amazing to watch.

I know most of you know her but I am simply in awe to say where she is right now in her life. She's 19 years old and sponsors on her own a single mother and 2 children through Compassion International. She will be heading back to Nicaragua for the third time for missions. She is buying gifts and cooking dinners for an atheist friend she is trying to reach. She is leading a Bible study to girls at school. She is giving out free chic-fil-a meal coupons to homeless people. She is volunteering at Hospice and anywhere else she can get a chance.

I know this is a bit lenghty but the most inspiring thing I've ever witnessed in her is her ability to forgive. It was almost 2 years ago when her biological father was dying of cancer. Chris is the only Daddy she ever knew and is the only Daddy she ever will. But this man who was her birth father, who abandoned her, her abused her mother, was a criminal with a drug and alcohol addiction was dying. The circumstances are too detailed to expand on but the reality is, she sent him a letter offering her forgivensss and gratefulness for letting her go. She told him how great her life was because of him, because he allowed Chris to adopt her. She let him know how great her God was as well. Beyond that, she made a commitment to go meet him. She did not want to but knew it was for him more than it was for her. Sadly, yet graciously he died a week before that time came. He also died a forgiven and changed man through the blood of Jesus Christ. And he died knowing that a precius child he so wrongly neglected forgave him.

I wish I could say that Alicia has had a wonderful problem free life but that would not be the truth. Our lives are not what they once were but through it all Alicia has done nothing but grow stronger and closer to the Lord. She inspires me and also scares me by her boldness, every single day and I could not be more proud than I am of her. In closing I want to share a response from her when I asked her about the medical profession she was choosing which at the time was oncology. I said " Alicia, you do know that a lot of your paitents will die and you won't be able to help them" and she looked me square in the eyes and said "Yea, I know Mom, but I want to be the last one who tried." Oh if only I could grasp this....just to be the last one who tried instead of being the last one who "intended" to. I love you Alicia Bailey.