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!