Each Christmas, gifts arrive to a woman in a little French town called Pleurtuit, along the coast of Brittany. These gifts come specially from America and are a way of saying "Thank You" and repaying a debt which many men owe to this woman.

It was 1936 when an American girl named Virginia married a Frenchman. At the beginning of their marriage, they lived in Paris. Then came the German occupation of France during the war. Many in France tried to go on living as though nothing had changed. But the war grew bitter and many men died.

American airmen began bombing German positions in France. When the pilots were shot down, they were often rescued by French and Belgium resistance fighters. The pilots were then sent by underground railroad to safety in Spain. They did not want the soldiers to be captured by the Germans.

Virginia watched as American GI's were being shot down. Some were captured and made prisoners. Others were rescued by resistance workers and saved. A great battle was going on inside Virginia. She did not want to get involved. It was much easier to pretend that the war would soon be over. Finally she decided that she must help.

In 1944 she became the leader of the rescue operation for American pilots. She saved many lives. Disguises and hideouts, night time journeys and special spies help them to escape being caught by the Nazis. But in June of 1994, she was captured. She was sent to prisoner of war camps in Germany. In Ravensbruck she worked for 12 hours a day at hard labor. She hardly got anything to eat and her weight fell to less than 100 pounds. She was near death when the war was finally over.

She returned to her little home in France, happy to be able to live out the rest of her days in peace and quiet. Hundreds of pilots, however, will never forget her. Each CHristmas time they remember her with gifts and cards. They all feel a debt to the woman who almost died to save them from death.

The Bible tells of the Son of God who came from heaven to save us from eternal death in hell and the Lake of Fire. He did not "almost" die. "CHrist DIED for the ungodly" Rom.5:6. He gave His life on a cross to make it possible for God to forgive us our sins. His precious blood is enough for God to blot out our transgressions and to take us to heaven. We can never pay Him for His death for us. But have you ever thanked Him for dying for you?

The Bible says "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life." John 3:36.

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