One Child at a Time

Today, times are hard for a lot of people. It is hard for many people with the rise of gasoline prices, costing some, a quarter of their paycheck just to work 40 hours a week. It is harder to find a second part time job, to help getting caught up on bills. Personally, I do not have any children. I can imagine how saddening it can be for them when Christmas comes. Even for the parents, when money is tight to pay bills, rent, and food. I can not imagine the heartache they face when they can not have a few presents under the tree.

There are many organizations who help people when Christmas comes, such as, the Marines who have the Toys for Tots, Kiwanis Lions Club, and some Fire Departments all who collect before Christmas to buy gifts for these unfortunate children with qualification. Some parents can not bring themselves to ask for help. Last year, my spouse and I adopted a child from a local church. We told the Pastor that the family has to be absolutely in need. A few weeks before Christmas, we were given a name of a nine year old girl, who I will call Carrie. I was told by the Pastor that her mother who was single, lost her place of employment, home, car, and was now living with their grandmother, who was just making it herself. In the envelope was a little piece of paper with a short list of things wanted by this little girl. What was so touching about her list was, it only said, I really need socks and underwear please.

My heart was touched, that this little girl seemed to understand her mothers circumstances and only wanted what was necessary ,as I can imagine how fast children can grow in a years time. I told my family members about this little child, and I was going to buy presents for her instead of buying for each of them. I have 16 people we usually buy for, and honestly, there was nothing I could buy them they already did not have. They understood and explained to my nieces and nephews who were younger that my spouse and I were donating a gift to a child who has nothing in their name.

My spouse and I immediately went out shopping, buying Carrie what she asked for on the list, plus some clothes for school, and accessories little girls would like. I had more joy in my heart when wrapping the gifts for Carrie, then any other Christmas. Each present was wrapped differently in bright paper and bows. I made a stocking with her name in purple glitter, and tied a bell which had her name on it to the stocking. We filled it with candy canes, children's play make up, pencils with her name it , a small gold cross necklace, basically anything we could stuff it full of that she may enjoy. We had a huge box that was now full of presents, we hoped would make one child happy that was in bad situation. We dropped the box off at the Church the Sunday before Christmas so her mother could take it home and place them under the tree the night before Christmas.

A week later the Pastor phoned us, telling us of the bright smile that was on Carries face as she sat in Church that Sunday. He said she was twirling around in her in new dress, and pointing to her cross around her neck. He said he had not seen her so happy in a very long time. I admit a tear came to my eye, as I secretly touched a little child's heart at Christmas. A week later we received another phone call, this time it was Carrie. She told us her mother asked the Pastor who gave her all the gifts, and that she wanted to thank us. This touched my heart even more. We told Carrie we were happy she had a nice Christmas. And not to give up hope, things will work out, even when they seem bad.

I do not imagine allot of people are well off, I know I am not. But if each of us takes time to help out a little child, it does not have to be at Christmas, one gift, can make a huge impact on a child who is facing difficult times they do not understand. Myself, I could not imagine a child going without a Christmas. I did not do it for my own satisfaction, I remembered a family who lived across the street from me who had nothing, and use to get presents donated at Christmas by the Fire Department and how hard it was for them. We can not change many things in life, but we can make things brighter one child at a time if we try.