Our church is doing things a little different this year with Christmas coming...our 'Angel Tree' held angels that told of families in need. We got our "angel"... a single mother with three children...and that reminded me of one of my proudest moments as a parent.
My children are grown now...but when our son was 11 years old, he kept asking and ASKING "how much do you spend on me for Christmas?" I thought he just wanted to know so he could say..."well just give me the money instead"..ha! You know kids at that age! But after days and days of the same question...I finally had HAD it with him..and said.."It doesn't matter HOW MUCH we spend on you, it is PLENTY and if you don't HUSH, it will be NOTHING!" He looked at me then and said "Well whatever it is, if you just spent HALF on me; would the other half be enough for me to sponser a family that needs help?" WOW...he was ELEVEN...and at that moment (besides feeling rotten that I just hadn't told him in the first place) I knew, I KNEW that we had to be doing SOMETHING right!!! I sat down with him and said yes, that half of what we spent on him would be enough to sponsor a needy family. So that's what he did. That year I took him downtown to the Christmas Cheer office, they gave him the big book that listed the families, ages of the children..etc. He picked a single mother with 3 children. The story of what Andy was doing spread and a lot of people helped him with that family. That mother was overwhelmed at the Christmas that was brought to her that year! Not only were there toys for the kids (which is all she had asked for) there were coats and clothes and shoes and diapers and food and formula. And Trip dressed up as Santa to take the stuff over with Andy and I went along to help bring the stuff in. As we were taking the stuff in, we noticed that in her tiny apartment, nothing was on the walls, there was one sad couch, a very small portable tv in the corner on a tv tray, two lawn chairs in the living room. In the kitchen there was a small table and 3 chairs. In the living room there was a very small Christmas tree, handmade ornaments, no lights. We left our gifts, visited for a little while, and then left. We got back in the car and were riding home, when our son said "half of my Christmas was more then they ever had." It made an impression.
Alot of people give at Christmas and I am sure that alot of people give with the right motive...but how many are willing to give to someone less fortunate if it really costs them something.? It cost Andy half of his Christmas that year...but he freely gave it, and didn't miss it. I hope this Christmas that everyone can find someone to help..with the economy the way it is and so many people out of work, it shouldn't be hard!
2 comments:
that must've been back when Andy had a heart...haha jk he's a sweet boy!
That is such a great story. Enough to make his momma proud! You are so right about folks in need. In our county they had a food drive called "It's scary to be hungry" on Halloween weekend. They expected a couple of hundred to show up to get food. More than 1100 lined up that morning. Unemployment is running at 12% in Bartow so we should all follow Andy and give a lot this year. Good post.
Post a Comment