Not So Typical Christmas

        I want to share a lesson I have learned from two new friends of mine, Jaylen and Juwan. First I want to let you get aquainted with these two boys.  They are twins and they are both apart of Skyline's mentor program. My mom is Jaylen's mentor so as a result these two boys have started coming to church with us and going to eat lunch on Sundays with our family. They are 100% all boy! Wild and hyper but secretly love the attention that they receive from my parents. They live with their mom and two older sisters (one of the sisters is special-ed).


       At the beginning of this fall/winter season the four kids had one coat to share. Each child had a day where the coat was theirs to wear for the day. Every night the twins sleep in the floor on a pallet because they don't have a bedroom and they certainly don't have a bed. Their diet consists of chips, vienna wieners, cookies and any other food that can be purchased at the dollar store. They have never been able to afford healthy options so they assume they don't like healthy foods. They have moved homes 4 times since the school year started. They have changed schools twice. Jaylen is made fun of almost everyday because he saves part of his food and puts it in his backpack to take home to share with his mom. Their Christmas decorations consist of a plug in candle in the window of the kids bedroom and Christmas pictures that they drew at mentoring hang on the living room wall. This past weekend their home was robbed. The thieves stole all their food out of the pantry and refridgerator. Their mom doesn't have a washer and dryer they wear the same school uniform the whole week and it gets washed at the laundromat on the weekends if their mom has money. I could go on and on.

    Why does their mom not get a better job? Why do people at church not give them money to live? Why do children have to suffer? All these questions I have asked and I am sure you are asking these questions as you read this now. I don't know all the answers but I do know that their mom does as much as she can by herself with 4 children(one being disabled). People at church have helped more than we know but there is a line that you can't over step. You can't make the mom feel that you are trying to be the mom, you can't give so much that they feel that they deserve it. I don't know why innocent children have to suffer but I do know that the mentoring program is a gift for these children and the love and attention they receive has all been provided to them by God.

    Good news they all got coats. They are about a size too big but that is good because they will still fit next year. The groceries that were stolen were replaced. The boys told us that their mom wanted something for Christmas and when we asked what they said she wants us to wake up on Christmas morning no matter what with a smile on our face.

      Even though there may not be gifts and there definitely will be no tree the boys know that the best gift is not the gift of things. Instead it is the gift of their family, the gift of Luke 2:6-7 the verses that Jaylen memorized and can say without any help. These boys have made me see how much I value things and how messed up my view of Christmas is. I was heartbroken that they didn't have a tree and I haven't even been heartbroken that their mother may not know the love of Jesus Christ. Thanks to Jaylen and Juwan for the Christmas gift that you have given to me and my family! You have opened our eyes and our hearts to see what truly matters. We are forever grateful. We pray for you everyday and we are excited to see your growth through Christ!

Christmas Memories

       Last night we had our small group Christmas party. It was hosted by our leaders Danny and Susie Walker and as always they truly out did themselves! We were all instructed to not bring a thing except for our favorite Christmas memory. The evening was filled with wonderful ciders and coffees, delicious foods and sweet fellowship. After we had all eaten we went into their family room to share our favorite Christmas memories and have a devotional.


     We got to here memories from everyone and it was neat how different everyone's favorite memories were. Some were hillarious (Brian driving a dirtbike into the side of a barn), Some were so sweet (the Jones taking cookies to the fire dept on Christmas day), some were sad ( Susie's last Christmas with her dad) and some were exciting (Brittany and Todd finding out they were pregnant with Hudson on Christmas morning).  With every memory shared I felt closer to the person sharing it. One thing that every memory had in common was that the memories were created with family around and everyone said in some way that family was what made Christmas so special.

      After the memories, Danny and Susie shared with us the purpose of the Advent wreath. This is not something that I was familiar with but I must say that what it represents is something that should be memorable for us all. This is a very brief description of the advent wreath but what it represents is very powerful.
           
           THE ADVENT WREATH It is a circular evergreen wreath (real or artificial) with five candles, four around the wreath and one in the center.
The circle of the wreath reminds us of God Himself, His eternity and endless mercy, which has no beginning or end. The green of the wreath speaks of the hope that we have in God, the hope of newness, of renewal, of eternal life. Candles symbolize the light of God coming into the world through the birth of His son. The four outer candles represent the period of waiting during the four Sundays of Advent, which themselves symbolize the four centuries of waiting between the prophet Malachi and the birth of Christ.The Center Candle represents Christ.

Last night was great! The memories shared were priceless. May we all celebrate our friends and family and put them before all the shopping, hustle and bustle of the season. May we never forget that Jesus came! He was born in a manger to a lowly girl for you and for me! Let's celebrate His birth and our salvation and let us make His story one of our very best memories!!