The Associated Press is carrying a heartwarming story of a U.S. soldier who has adopted an Iraqi boy with cerebral palsy. National Guard Captain Scott Southworth first met Ala'a when he paid a visit to an Iraqi orphanage run by the Sisters of Charity in 2003. He returned several times to visit him. In 2004, Southworth was informed that Ala'a would be transferred to a government facility:

There were so many reasons why he couldn't bring a handicapped Iraqi boy into his world.He had no wife or home; he knew nothing of raising a disabled child; he had little money and planned to run for district attorney in his home county.Just as important, Iraqi law prohibits foreigners from adopting Iraqi children.Southworth prayed and talked with family and friends.His mother, who had cared for many disabled children, explained the difficulty. She also told him to take one step at a time and let God work.Southworth's decision was cemented in spring 2004, while he and his comrades watched Mel Gibson's film, "The Passion of the Christ." Jesus Christ's sacrifice moved him. He imagined meeting Christ and Ala'a in heaven, where Ala'a asked: "Baba, why didn't you ever come back to get me?""Everything that I came up with as a response I felt ashamed. I wouldn't want to stand in the presence of Jesus and Ala'a and say those things to him."And so, in his last weeks in Iraq, Southworth got approval from Iraq's Minister of Labor to take Ala'a to the United States for medical care.

Pray for Scott and Ala'a, and for all who are called to welcome the Christ child in new and unexpected ways.