Christmas Perspective

Have you had one of those holiday seasons like mine? One where all I want to do is hide somewhere to escape, and I am not kidding, the bickering. The bickering over who gets to use the red crayon even though we have a dozen red crayons, the bickering over who gets the most presents or over who is giving Dad the biggest present. Or how many pieces of paper we can use to send Santa our wish list, and who gets the red piece of construction paper to do that. Maybe your bickering might include what gifts should be opened on Christmas Eve as opposed to Christmas Day......and it gets infuriating, and you want to escape.

That is our household to the nines this year, and I am ready to pitch whatever is under our tree out the door. I am hoping the project I forced the family to participate in sinks in a bit. Here is the project from behind the scenes. It begins with our great Susie, at church, who spearheads this orchestra. First, she gets a list from the local elementary school of families who are in dire need this year if the family wants to have a Christmas. Our church takes on four families. Two of the families this year were displaced by a recent apartment fire and have been homeless since April. The family I am focusing on for this post is a mother and a ten year old daughter. They are homeless and couch hopping at friends homes while they struggle through the social services departments to get low income housing help. The plan was to deliver each family their load of gifts and food this last weekend, but for Julie and Sierra, they didn't know where they would be. It was hoped they would be in their apartment by Christmas. So Susie asked Julie (the mom), "Do you have a car?" Thinking that maybe we can have her meet us at the church to give her these things. Julie's response, "No, I have a cart." And then the tears flowed from all who heard that conversation. It was agreed we, the church, would hold onto the items this week to see if she got her apartment. It wasn't to be. So we delivered them today at a friend's basement apartment where Julie and Sierra are, again, couch hopping.

Julie and Sierra, you are gems. It was our honor and pleasure to be Santa for you this year. God bless you.

Sunday morning gift wrapping. Each station has wrapping, tags, tape, scissors. The table also has each family's gifts with each one labeled. Hats off to Susie!

Julie and Sierra's table.

After our great church members have come in and wrapped, it looks great. I also wanted to include this photo because it has a sliver of a certain teenager's bum
who wouldn't turn around but would only give me his best side.

Today, our sleigh (mini van clunker) getting loaded up.
No, the chicken feed isn't for Julie and Sierra.

Our van is full, and more was put in another vehicle.
I am so proud of our church for making sure these folks get a Christmas to remember.

JM and my hubbie loading into Julie and Sierra's current apartment.

And suddenly the bickering gets softer and softer and softer......

A whole lot of gained perspective.