When our kids were growing up, Christmas was a joyful, relaxing time for our family. Our son and daughter would look forward to the Christmas break with increasing excitement as the days got shorter and darker.
But imagine, instead, a child who dreads Christmas. For this little boy or girl, Christmas is about the empty place at the dinner table, the shamed silence when their friends talk about the gifts they received, and the sleepless nights spent wondering whether their mom or dad is safe in the frightening place they’ve seen portrayed on TV. Christmas is a reminder of all they lost when their parent went to prison.
Now imagine that child’s smile when an Angel Tree® volunteer arrives with a gift from their parent behind bars – a gift with a tag that says, “I love you so much. Merry Christmas!” Imagine that smile widening when the volunteer has a chance to share that the gift is just a small symbol of the love the Heavenly Father has for this broken-hearted child, demonstrated forever in the gift of Jesus at the first Christmas. This boy or girl now has something to remind them they are loved no matter what!
Friend, this little boy or girl isn’t far away. She’s across town. He’s in your child’s class. In a very real sense, these are our kids.
In the middle of this busy season, will you stop with me and pray for children who don’t have the one thing they want most this Christmas – the parent who can’t come home? And will you join me in asking God what He would have us do to bring the real hope of Christmas to our kids? Learn what you can do at www.angeltree.org.