I am so excited about the Christmas 2016 #LIGHTtheWORLD campaign. I joined and will be given 25 ways/ideas over the course of the next 25 days to try to be more like Jesus Christ. Each day there is a challenge to do something that Christ did in his life: feed the hungry, visit the sick, honor parents, etc. It is such a great way to celebrate Christmas. You can view the different days and join here.
Although I loved all of the ideas for each day, I was really drawn to Day 3.
Day 3: Jesus Helped Others to See and So Can You
As the Light of the World, Jesus Christ was born so that no one would have to live in darkness. He miraculously healed the blind, but that’s far from the only way Jesus Christ can open our eyes. Today, there are many ways we can help others—and ourselves—to see the things that matter most.
Some of the suggestions of how to help others ‘see’ are the following:
I was really drawn to the “promote a vision charity on social media” because blindness affects so many. I have a good friend in Germany who struggles with partial blindness. His inability to see affects almost everything in his life. He has difficulty holding down a job, getting places, reading, using the internet, watching TV… pretty much everything most of us take for granted daily is either impossible for him or comes with great difficulty due to his inability to see.
There are 39 million people worldwide affected by blindness. Yet, 80% of this blindness can be prevented or treated with proven, cost-effective interventions. The gift of sight is one of the most amazing gifts anyone could receive. One of my favorite charitable organizations is called Seeing is Believing. Their services are geared toward individuals without easy access to eye care and those with limited resources.
In 2015, Seeing is Believing had reached the monumental benchmark of funding 100 eye health projects, performing 3.5 million sight-restoring operations and had given 800,000 pairs of glasses to those in need.
My best friend’s good friend helped fundraise for Seeing is Believing. He fundraised for and volunteered in an area where $1.00 USD could buy one pair of eye glasses. He was able to raise thousands and thus provide thousands of people with spectacles and the ability to see clearly! I was able to donate to his fundraiser and when he got back from his trip with Seeing is Believing, he sent me a booklet of the people to whom I helped provide eye glasses. Flipping through the pages brought tears to my eyes. So many children, teens, and even adults were able to now see clearly due to his service and the contributions and donations of others.
Today (December 2016) Seeing is Believing has prevented over 100 million people from going blind! For Day 3 of this campaign, I chose to donate to Seeing is Believing, and will share some information about the organization on my social media. Another great option they have is that, like my best friend’s friend, anyone can volunteer to fundraise for them as well. More information about Seeing is Believing can be found here.
I really love that Day 3 of the #LIGHTtheWORLD campaign also includes the option/idea to help others see themselves more clearly. There is a suggestion to point out virtues you see in others. If I imagine being there to witness the Savior healing and giving sight to the blind I am touched, but I am also just as touched imagining the Savior giving spiritual sight to those He healed as well.
Christ has, in a very real way, given me spiritual sight to see situations and people as He would have me see them.
Christ helps us see clearly in many different ways.
By helping others to see (whether you choose the option to help others to see physically or by giving them spiritual sight) you are following Jesus Christ’s example.
Join the #LIGHTtheWORLD campaign here. You can join anytime from December 1st to the 24th—the earlier you start the more opportunities there are to take part.
I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and can take part in lighting the world in a similar way that the Savior did.
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I was compensated for this post. All opinions and text are 100% mine.
This is awesome! I love all of those ideas, and I love that we can help others see physically but also spiritually! Thanks for sharing!