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Our “Giving Tuesday” gift to you!

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Thank you for giving and supporting us this year! Download our iPhone artwork below!

This season, more than any other, shows me that our culture does indeed long for the joyful hope of Christ. Regardless of race or creed, I see my Instagram feed filling up with wreaths and lights, and holiday cheer of all kinds. What the culture does not embrace, what it’s missing from the picture, is the season of Advent. Honestly, Advent is a hard season to “celebrate” because it is a season of penitence, of preparation. Our culture skips past that season and rushes right into the celebration – which makes carving out a space for Advent in the daily life extra challenging.

Think back to a big celebrations you’ve helped prepared for; graduation, weddings or the birth of a child. The celebration couldn’t happen without preparation, and even deeper than the day we spent celebrating, was the preparation for the big event itself. Hours and hours of studying, test taking and group projects. Pre-cana marriage prep and engagement. Nine long months of pregnancy. The graduation, wedding and birth can’t happen immediately, and the wait time is hard for us.

I think that’s the reason our culture dismisses the season of Advent and skips right to Christmas, because it’s not overtly bright and cheerful. Advent is not Christmas trees, holiday cookies and parties. It’s a season of renewal and of pouring out ourselves in preparation for a Savior that enters our world to fill us to the brim. It’s not as “festive” and flashy, but we need it to truly prepare ourselves for the feast.

So how, with Christmas music on the radio and gift shopping to be done, do we celebrate the season of Advent in our hearts and families? I suggest, going old school. Feed the hungry. Shelter the homeless. Clothe the naked. Visit the sick & imprisoned. Bury the dead. Give alms to the poor. These corporal works of mercy are ways to reach beyond ourselves in service to our neighbor, that truly do prepare in our hearts a space for the Lord to fill.

In this “Season of Giving” I see a culture that, though maybe confused on how & why we celebrate, knows down at its core that giving of ourselves to others is important, and this is a great time to do it. I think that’s why “Giving Tuesday” was added to the black Friday/small business Saturday/cyber Monday hustle.

Today, on Giving Tuesday, Biking for Babies riders are hitting the roads to give of themselves for others. I think on the outside, a lot of Biking for Babies supporters think of our riders as fundraisers – and they do help fundraise – but I’ve learned throughout the last year that riders are doing so much more than financially supporting their centers. Our riders give of their time, their physical comfort and their spiritual attention to the women, children and staff at the core of pregnancy resource centers they support. They unite physical suffering to Christ and offer it up as intentions for women and families facing crisis. They talk to their friends and families about the good work of PRCs and help others grow in understanding and acceptance of the amazing programs they offer. They invest in tough conversations with others about the truth of abortion, and the alternatives of support that do exist. They put their bodies, minds and hearts on the line when they witness to the beautiful work of PRCs.

I am humbled and stand in awe of the spiritual strength and physical sacrifice the Biking for Babies riders give in their rides. Today, we all have an opportunity to give alms to the poor by supporting charities and non-profits financially, and I feel blessed to give that support to pregnancy resource centers. To “give back” to our faithful supporters, I’ve created a few digital pieces of art to encourage you on your pro-life walk, and to remind you that you are not alone in upholding the dignity and value of life. You can download these to keep on your phone or desktop, and I hope the words of Saint John Paul the Great refresh you during this time of preparation, in wait for our coming Savior.

Biking for Babies Desktop Wallpaper, light blue. Click to Download.
Biking for Babies Desktop Wallpaper, light blue. Click to Download.
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Biking for Babies iPhone Lock Screen, light blue. Click to Download.
Biking for Babies Desktop Wallpaper, dark blue. Click to Download.
Biking for Babies Desktop Wallpaper, dark blue. Click to Download.
Biking for Babies iPhone Lock Screen, dark blue. Click to Download.
Biking for Babies iPhone Lock Screen, dark blue. Click to Download.