I am amazed by compassion during these nutty hard times. People everywhere are struggling with finances. We sure are. Everytime we fix one thing in the house, something else breaks down. The car is running fine at the moment, but we know that something will happen soon enough, it always does. People are complaining about the economy, about job loss, about hurting and pain. Yet...there is light in the darkness.
When our church made the decision to collect toys for Washington Park and the Good Samaritan Compassion Center and also for the Angel Tree in Pana, I honestly did not believe that it would be the best turnout. We ourselves have cut way back on Christmas giving because Andrew is in college, milk is expensive, and financially we are really hurting. But we found money to buy toys for the kids in Washington Park. And so did a lot of other people. I am overwhemled by the amount of giving. People have handed me money, brought toys to our home, supplied blankets, coats, hats, gloves, coloring books, hot wheels, crayons, stuffed animals, trucks, desserts, and so much more. One of our church members offered a covered trailer for us to take all the gifts down to the church. Several people are providing cookies and cupcakes to take down the day of the big giveaway. One of the women I work with, a real sweetheart with one of the greatest smiles ever, has brought three bags so far for the kids. Her compassion is inspiring. One man in the church brought an African-American Barbie doll over. He had bought it years ago for collectibility, and now just wants a little girl to enjoy it. The Angel Tree has toys all around it, there are boxes of donated items everywhere, including our garage, and we still have not made our way to yet another home that just called with more toys to donate. When I think I should be down this holiday season, I think of the giving. And I am reminded of the greatest gift ever given...a father giving his son for me. What makes us all the same today? We still care. And we all enjoy giving.
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I completely agree with you Kev about how amaing people are. I have had so many people call for the angel tree and I must admit I started to get worried and then remembered when I suggested the idea of opening up the angel tree to the community, people said "oh you won't get any help and you won't be able to get all the kids toys." I had even set a cut off date but if someone called I just could not refuse them, then I remembered my reply when they told me we would never get enough presents. I said, "I probably can't but my GOD can."
ReplyDeleteWhat makes me so sure? My church family.....they are the most wonderful people I have ever met in the world. They come together when we need help, when we need support, when we just need company. This time of year I am usually worried about Mike not getting anything (even though he is now 19) but this year it was just like GOD was sitting beside me saying, "Don't worry there are still children who need you." So the empty nest thing kind of took a dive and the drive to make sure every child we could reach was reached took over. I have had more joy this year even with the few bouts of sickness and things, I have actually wanted to get my tree up (which hasn't happened yet)to decorate and really celebrate Christmas with JOY and LOVE in my Heart the way it is meant to be.
It's a good lesson for us all humankind at thier lowest will rise to GOD's call everytime.
Thank you to everyone who has helped in any way to make this a beautiful Christmas for everyone!