I often wonder what God is up to when Angel Tree season comes around — and this past season was very different from previous years. We had only four local children needing sponsors.
But soon, a list showing hundreds of unsponsored children in our region of California came in an email, with a request for sponsors. It took only a moment of “W.W.J.D.?” before my pastor and I agreed that we would, in faith, agree to sponsor 21 more kids.
These kids all lived a good distance away and had daunting schedules due to being shuttled between caregivers. And, the request came right in the midst of our series of Christmas choir concerts at prisons around Northern California. We knew it was a lot to take on at once, but we charged ahead.
The fun began! It became clear that the Holy Spirit was helping us out with shopping miracles. We determined that, since God gave His very best gift in giving us Jesus Christ, His only Son, then our gifts would also be the best for these children.
I was heading to the mall to buy a pair of new dress shoes for a 17-year-old and stopped by a grocery store to pick up a few items. I was stunned to see my receipt had a printed coupon for 30-percent off at the shoe store I was on my way to! I had enough left in the budget to buy dress socks for her, too.
One of our first-year sponsors was delighted at how the Lord orchestrated shopping experiences for Angel Tree. “It was probably the most fun I’ve ever had shopping. I felt like a secret agent. First, the Holy Spirit led me to find a beautiful $60 outfit for just $14 for the 16-year-old girl I sponsored. That left me money to purchase a special necklace with a spiritual meaning for her. Then, I saw a large display of toys where I found the perfect child’s riding toy for half off! I got all my gifts for my Angel Tree kids in less than 45 minutes — just amazing!”
She was equally impacted on the day she delivered gifts:
“The caregiver we delivered gifts to for other Angel Tree sponsors (who lived far away) was so overwhelmed by the kindness of God when we arrived that she burst into tears. Some difficult things had happened that day but the love of God through Angel Tree touched her at an opportune time. Her little one’s eyes were as big as saucers! You couldn’t pay money for her daughter’s great big grin when she saw we were carrying a big bag of gifts just for them! This year’s Angel Tree experience made my holidays so memorable. I can’t wait for next year!”
During Christmas, one sponsor agreed to get a special gift for a little girl whose dad is in prison: a brand new bicycle with all the bells and whistles. Her grandmother just wept when she saw it. They could not afford it but knew her granddaughter wanted one. The little girl’s sponsor took a video of her joy and surprise as he wheeled the beautiful pink bicycle in to her, helped her get on it, and ran around the parking lot with her while she pedaled and grinned. Then we all gave thanks, and prayed for her daddy, who requested her Angel Tree gift.
This same sponsor took all remaining unsponsored kids for Angel Tree Christmas 2012, paid for gifts for all of them, and since then got a new job at double the pay without even interviewing for it. The company just called, stating his new salary and start date! We know you cannot out-give God.
A caregiver shared with us that she was going through cancer chemotherapy, her son was in prison, and she is raising his little boy, a lively 4-year-old. We were able to encourage her and prayed for healing, then brought her a book on healing prayer during a subsequent visit. Her grandson had already memorized the Bible stories in the little books we’d brought him, and knew all their names. His grandma said, “Now, he doesn’t want to read anything else!” It is so wonderful to see God working in our Angel Tree families’ lives.
An elderly caregiver with two relatives in prison, whose three children she is raising, said, “I didn’t know how I was going to have any Christmas, but this wonderful load of presents arrived”, one pile from each child’s Angel Tree sponsor, and she was just thrilled. “I feel so alone much of the time, and I’m afraid to let down my guard … or confide in anyone what I’m going through.”
It turned out that one of our team members actually works in her department, is a prayer warrior, and had already felt the leading of the Lord to befriend her … and pray for her at work! These “God-incidences” always make us marvel at the omniscient hand of God, who reaches out to supply all of our needs, including love, fellowship, and comfort.
Many of our Angel Tree team members agreed that this dynamic ministry was the highlight of their Christmas season and loved being a part of it. Who knows what long-term miracles will result from each act of kindness to these families? Only the Lord!
Paula Caddy served as an Angel Tree church coordinator in California for the 2013 Christmas season.