The Worth of a Soul

It truly has been a fantastic season. The love and joy in the air is so refreshing, I miss it already. I focused the gifts I gave on the Saviour and helping the receiver become a better person. To Brittani I made an African nativity set out of clay. It was beautiful and took so much time, it was truly worth it.

For my mom I gave her Seven Habits of Highly Effective People with a journal of Christ and a woman on the ground reaching up to him. I also added quotes, printed out the challenges and added tools I've used when I read it. I wanted it to really change her life. To my brother I gave Hope In Our Hearts by Russell M. Nelson and I gave a movie called Life Lessons From Fathers of Faith: Inspiring True Stories About Latter-day Dads to my father. I will never regret giving Christ-centered gifts this year and hope to always remember it.

Now I must admit a weakness. I've really been struggling lately with my testimony of my Saviour and of his realness. I've felt so left alone and unsure if he really saves me or if it makes a difference if I fervently believe in him or not. Well I'd like to tell you about my favorite Christmas gift. First you must know that I love Africa and it's people. I've never been there but I feel so drawn to them and I'm dying to go there some day. So for Christmas I pulled out a $.50 picture that changed my life.

I had seen the picture before, but it was what was written on the back that brought tears to my eyes. There was a short note from my mother that read, "Dearest Tia, Until you can hold them, pray daily that God will. Love, Mom" as well as the story of how the picture came to be. 

The Worth of a Soul

By Liz Lemon Swindle

When Mothers Without Borders approached me about going to Africa, I told them I was not interested. For me Africa was a world away, “and besides,” I thought, “I am too busy.” Imagine my surprise when I found myself on a plane to Zambia in June 2007.

One of the first children I met was Kennedy, the little boy you see in the painting. At three years old he has lost both of his parents to AIDS and was found living alone with his six year old brother and ten year old sister. When I thought of those three children struggling to survive and the millions of others across Africa in similar circumstances, I felt an overwhelming hopelessness and said to myself, “No amount of money can fix this.”

Later that day while we were filming, Kennedy climbed into the arms of the man portraying the Savior. As I stood watching them, Kennedy turned towards me and our eyes met. At that moment I knew it wasn’t hopeless. I realized that the Savior could fix not only the problems of Africa, but of the whole world…and we can be His hands to do it.

For the first time in my life I felt what Isaiah meant when he said, “He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces.” To Kennedy and all who struggle to understand why, I promise that God has not forgotten you.

Looking back I realize that my reasons for not wanting to go to Africa are likely the same as yours. We are busy and feel like we cannot make a difference, but I know now that neither is true. We are never too busy to lift another and every good work is known to Him who said, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of…these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” 

I have shared this gift with close friends and every time I share it with them it touches me in a different way. When I first saw this picture I thought of myself and the person I want to become. I felt like God was holding my little black baby until one day I was prepared and called. It brought me to reach for something, something deep inside that I had been ignoring; my mission and purpose. The next time I showed this picture to a friend I realized that not only is he holding the little children of Africa but he is holding me. And lastly I realized that when I struggle to feel the love of the Saviour it is because I am not looking outside of myself. Every time I look into the eyes of any living thing, I can see Christ. I realize that if I am not looking for Christ in others then I cannot expect to see Christ there for me.

I bear testimony that He lives. His celestial light shines in us and the more we recognize it the closer he feels. God loves each and every one of us, he knows our trials and he sees our beauty. I am so grateful for the blessing I have and strive daily to share my gratitude by sharing my blessings with others. He lives and is watching his work come forth. I bare this testimony in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.