Good morning…
Today is the first day of the first week of this fresh new year.
What a perfect morning to ring in the new with a special gift from a friend in our Monday group. This fall, our friend learned about the struggles of Ukrainian Olena Gnes through watching her story told on the international news, and she began corresponding with Olena, offering encouragement and financial support as needed. Only God knew that Olena and her three young children would relocate to the U.S. and be welcomed into a temporary home right here in Atlanta. Olena and our friend have kept in good contact through this major transition in the life of her young family, and Olena has established a website on YouTube called “What is Ukraine?” to keep people informed about the deep needs of her homeland and the Ukrainian people.
On Christmas night, our friend shared a loving text with our class.
“A video from my Ukrainian family with their children opening their Christmas gift from me,” she wrote. “I sent them the 2022 Wallace Silver Bells as their Mom had educated us about the song ‘Carol of the Bells’ and its composer being Ukrainian. It was first performed at Carnegie Hall. Later the composer was killed by the KGB because of his fame. I wanted them to have something they could keep and take home to Ukraine after the war. Olena made this video for me of the kids opening their gifts. I shared the video with my GRANDS tonight before they opened their gifts. Merry Christmas to all.”
This touching video shows the resilience of these displaced children. It’s amazing to witness joy ringing out and singing forth as “what was” is gone and “what will be” has yet to take form. The old life is gone; a new life emerges! Look at it! All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other (2 Corinthians 5:17b-18, MSG).
…Sue…
