"We won't be getting Christmas gifts this year. Mom can't afford them," she said very matter of factly...not in the way you might expect a child to say, with an expectation of sympathy from others. She was just stating the facts. She and her siblings, always very humble, usually blended into the group of inner city youth that congregates every Thursday night for a program at our church called The Landing. It's a group for those with "hurts, habits, and hangups" (don't all of us fit that category?!) and a place where meals are shared and real life is lived out, discussed, and challenged. Truth is spoken into these young lives about their capability to overcome their circumstances through learning to trust, having hope, and realizing their self worth as a child of the King.
This young girl's mother was an exotic dancer. Her children, ashamed of her lifestyle, prayed and pleaded with her to find a new job. Their prayer was answered when their mother decided to move them out of their apartment and away from the lifestyle they were so embarrased to talk about. She quit her job and got hired at a fast food restaurant, likely taking a pay cut for minimum wage. She wanted a better future for them...but now she couldn't even afford to buy them a single Christmas gift.
But, thankfully, the God we serve knows the ache of every mother's heart and the longing of every child. And in December 2013, He knew the hearts of this family and brought together an abundance of resources through a community of believers, and He showed up in a tangible way in this family's life.
I simply had the privilege of witnessing God's blessings for this family. Along with my two fabulous co-leaders of The Landing girls' group, I accompanied these kids on a surprise shopping trip, two days before Christmas. When we revealed that each of the kids had $100 to spend - on themselves - the car grew silent. What kinds of things did they want, we asked. What stores did they want to visit first? Silence. It was clear they hadn't even considered what they might want, as they had come to accept the fact that there would be no gifts this year. How many times do we make wishlists for Christmas, birthdays, and everything in between? And what about the times we receive a gift that we aren't entirely thrilled about...and grumble about it?! And yet, these children who have every reason to make wishlists like every other child...don't ask for a single thing?!
Finally, the boy spoke up, "I think I know what I want! It's only one thing. And I know right where it is." A remote-controlled helicopter made this boy's face light up, and he carried it around WalMart like it was all he wanted. And it actually was...when told he still had a lot of money to spend, he simply shrugged and looked at his helicopter with a smile on his face. It took him the rest of the evening to decide on something else on which to spend the rest of his money.
The girls, on the other hand, started carefully inspecting dozens of items to find the perfect purchase...For. Their. Mother. These kids had been given money to spend on themselves, with only a suggestion that we may be able to get something for their Mom along the way. But the very first purchases they wanted to make were for the very woman who would not be able to give them any gift in return. My heart nearly exploded.
After finding the perfect gifts for their mother, they calculated out loud how much they had left over to spend on themselves. That's right...they intentionally spent their first dollars on their parent, and they were more than happy to use what was left over on themselves. After all, it was more than what they had to begin with! Isn't that what we are all called to do? Give back to our Heavenly parent first, the One who provides for us? Shouldn't we give Him our first fruits and keep what is left over, trusting that there will be more than enough?
We explained that there was enough money and that they didn't have to subtract their mother's gifts from their own; there was extra to account for those purchases. So, onward we went to find the girls some new clothes. I have never seen their faces light up the way they did as they carefully made their way around the store, selecting a few items to try on, yet always mindful of the price tag and keeping track of how much they had left to spend. All the while, their sweet brother tried to help, "Here, what about this shirt? I like this color!" He became their official shopping assistant, using the store's clothing pole to reach items on the top rack for them. He may have had more fun shopping for them than they did! The way these siblings looked after each other was awe-inspiring. I'm pretty sure even my own sister (who I consider my best friend!) and I were not as graceful towards each other during middle school/high school shopping sprees!
As we walked through the moonlit parking lot after leaving the last store, arms full of shopping bags and smiles on every face, the oldest child turned to the others and said, "Now look up at the sky and say 'thank you!' This is from God." My heart melted.
The entire way home, the conversation in the back seat was "I can't wait to see Mom's face when she opens the gifts we bought for her!! She is totally going to cry!" And she did.
I pray that in this New Year, I can be like these kids; wanting for little, and giving of much, regardless of my circumstances! May I recognize the TRUE gifts in life.
This young girl's mother was an exotic dancer. Her children, ashamed of her lifestyle, prayed and pleaded with her to find a new job. Their prayer was answered when their mother decided to move them out of their apartment and away from the lifestyle they were so embarrased to talk about. She quit her job and got hired at a fast food restaurant, likely taking a pay cut for minimum wage. She wanted a better future for them...but now she couldn't even afford to buy them a single Christmas gift.
But, thankfully, the God we serve knows the ache of every mother's heart and the longing of every child. And in December 2013, He knew the hearts of this family and brought together an abundance of resources through a community of believers, and He showed up in a tangible way in this family's life.
I simply had the privilege of witnessing God's blessings for this family. Along with my two fabulous co-leaders of The Landing girls' group, I accompanied these kids on a surprise shopping trip, two days before Christmas. When we revealed that each of the kids had $100 to spend - on themselves - the car grew silent. What kinds of things did they want, we asked. What stores did they want to visit first? Silence. It was clear they hadn't even considered what they might want, as they had come to accept the fact that there would be no gifts this year. How many times do we make wishlists for Christmas, birthdays, and everything in between? And what about the times we receive a gift that we aren't entirely thrilled about...and grumble about it?! And yet, these children who have every reason to make wishlists like every other child...don't ask for a single thing?!
Finally, the boy spoke up, "I think I know what I want! It's only one thing. And I know right where it is." A remote-controlled helicopter made this boy's face light up, and he carried it around WalMart like it was all he wanted. And it actually was...when told he still had a lot of money to spend, he simply shrugged and looked at his helicopter with a smile on his face. It took him the rest of the evening to decide on something else on which to spend the rest of his money.
The girls, on the other hand, started carefully inspecting dozens of items to find the perfect purchase...For. Their. Mother. These kids had been given money to spend on themselves, with only a suggestion that we may be able to get something for their Mom along the way. But the very first purchases they wanted to make were for the very woman who would not be able to give them any gift in return. My heart nearly exploded.
After finding the perfect gifts for their mother, they calculated out loud how much they had left over to spend on themselves. That's right...they intentionally spent their first dollars on their parent, and they were more than happy to use what was left over on themselves. After all, it was more than what they had to begin with! Isn't that what we are all called to do? Give back to our Heavenly parent first, the One who provides for us? Shouldn't we give Him our first fruits and keep what is left over, trusting that there will be more than enough?
We explained that there was enough money and that they didn't have to subtract their mother's gifts from their own; there was extra to account for those purchases. So, onward we went to find the girls some new clothes. I have never seen their faces light up the way they did as they carefully made their way around the store, selecting a few items to try on, yet always mindful of the price tag and keeping track of how much they had left to spend. All the while, their sweet brother tried to help, "Here, what about this shirt? I like this color!" He became their official shopping assistant, using the store's clothing pole to reach items on the top rack for them. He may have had more fun shopping for them than they did! The way these siblings looked after each other was awe-inspiring. I'm pretty sure even my own sister (who I consider my best friend!) and I were not as graceful towards each other during middle school/high school shopping sprees!
As we walked through the moonlit parking lot after leaving the last store, arms full of shopping bags and smiles on every face, the oldest child turned to the others and said, "Now look up at the sky and say 'thank you!' This is from God." My heart melted.
The entire way home, the conversation in the back seat was "I can't wait to see Mom's face when she opens the gifts we bought for her!! She is totally going to cry!" And she did.
I pray that in this New Year, I can be like these kids; wanting for little, and giving of much, regardless of my circumstances! May I recognize the TRUE gifts in life.
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