Advent to a New Year

As 2024 ends and we finish reflecting on Advent season, I think about what advent truly means for our staff, our clients, and for the world. Until recently, I must have somehow forgotten that the word “advent” actually means “arrival.”

 

In our yearly report, 50% of our clients express that they hold religious beliefs, 21% regularly attend a place of worship, 36% have a religious preference of Christianity, and another 5% identify as Catholic. With this percentage rate, many of you are probably familiar with the terms I’m about to use to describe Advent.

 

In Christianity, we celebrate Advent as we reflect the birth and arrival of Jesus, His life, and His return. There are four themes many churches focus on throughout the four weeks of Advent. Sometimes, the themes are worded differently but the focus is the same.

 

1. Hope (or promise)

2. Preparation (or waiting)

3. Joy (or peace—sometimes celebrated in it’s own week)

4. Love

 

In our center this year, our staff members have done lots of preparation and waiting. We have found hope in the stand for life. We have found so much joy & peace working with our clients in hard situations. We have given out an abundance of love and treated our clients as family.

 

Our client, Maribel, found hope during her follow-up ultrasound appointment. Her first ultrasound didn’t go very well. There were signs of a possible early miscarriage. But we gave her lots of love and encouragement. We prayed with her and scheduled her for a follow-up. At her next appointment, we saw a beautiful tiny baby with a thriving heartbeat. 

 

Renee found peace escaping the wrath and darkness of domestic violence. She finds joy as she prepares for her baby in a safe and loving home. 

 

Lacy relishes the promises of God as she holds her belly bump when the doctors said she could no longer have children. She is anxiously awaiting the arrival of her little one. 

 

Monique, a single mother of many children, found hope and freedom in Christ as she surrendered it all to Him. She, at one time, was contemplating abortion but later decided that she was going to do right by her children. She birthed a beautiful baby boy, moved out of an unsafe environment, and got her own apartment. She is rewriting the story of her children and is in the early stages of creating a beautiful legacy. (In Christ, we are a NEW creation!) Monique found that her identity was not in who she is with, or what she has done. Her identity is found in WHOSE she is – [a daughter of God] – and what HE has done [sending Jesus for our redemption.] 

 

Vanessa felt she had no other option and went through a chemical abortion this year via the abortion pill process. In her own words she stated, “I didn’t know I was going to see my baby in the bathroom. They didn’t tell me I would have to flush my baby down the toilet.” While healing from the trauma of abortion and lack of informed consent, Vanessa became pregnant again. This time, she found hope in knowing that she COULD be a good mom. She holds onto the hope of a brighter future of healing and life as she plans to parent this new baby. 

 

In 2024, we saw pain and helplessness. We also saw joy and help from our generous community. Where there was hopelessness, we found hope. Where there were ashes, we found beauty. In the darkest of situations, we still saw light. 

 

I pray that as 2025 begins, Life Line Sampson will continue to be an arrival of hope to the families of our community. I pray we will continue to share light in dark places and most importantly, share the creator of light and life.