Christmas Carol Kauffman

   Meet....Christmas Carol Kauffman.

    Well, what would you name your precious baby girl born on December 25?

    Carol was born in 1901 into a loving, hardworking, devoted Mennonite family in Elkhart, Indiana.  I became acquainted with her away back in the 1900s when I found a collection of her historical biographies, including Lucy Winchester, and Not Regina.  They are stories of real people who lived lives of joy and sufferings, and found their strength in following Christ.

I recently read her biography, The Carol of Christmas, and was struck, once again, by someone who totally devoted their life to following God, no matter the cost.

    What made the lives of Christmas Carol Kauffman, Darlene Diebler Rose, Elizabeth Elliot,  Amy Carmichael,  Ruth Bell Graham,  Sister Therese, and so many others, worthy of note or even emulation, was not the exotic missionary locations, the books written, the sufferings endured or the acclaim. It was their surrender to follow God regardless of the (unknown) costs. When they heard the call of God (some as young children) to FOLLOW HIM, they said YES and stepped into lives filled with joys and sorrows, confusion and victory, life and death.

    Have you ever seen a well-trained dog (Belgian Malinois, Google it) or horse respond to their owner from the slightest movement or word? Their attention is lasered in on one person.

    My prayer for the New Year:
“Of God, enable me, through your Spirit,
to follow you more quickly, at the slightest move or word.  
Thank You for your purest love.”

    Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you,  ya'll, all ya'll, Sistren and Brethren, saints and sinners.

- Donna M. Marshall