Generosity.......

       Over the past four weeks my front room has been displaced by a multitude of gifts.  In fact, close to 500 gifts for foster children to be more precise. This is the 4th or 5th year that I have worked on collecting gifts for foster children and by far it has been the most amazing, most touching year of all. Truly, I was not prepared for the magnitude of love and generosity that I would witness from local businesses, friends, family, and strangers. 

      For a child who has been displaced from their home, whether it is deemed a "bad" home or not, they are still being taken from the one family they know and love.  The trauma they experience, the neglect, the abuse, whatever the reason may be for removing them does not take away the love they have for their parents and family.  Some of these kids are not even in foster homes with their siblings, they enter into a new, hopefully temporary home where they know no-one.  Even for us adults who have lost loved ones, who are apart from our loved ones, we often feel a sense of sadness and grief during the holidays.  We can express that and identify that within ourselves.  These children don't have these skills yet and can't rationalize their situation. So when the holidays come and they are without the family they have always known they feel fear, anxiety, uncertainty, sadness, and so much more.  These children have no idea what the holidays will bring.....will they have a gift to open at Christmas, what will the new traditions be, will they feel like they are special and a part of this new family that is happy and joyous to be together, will they be accepted and loved? 

     When we collect gifts for these kids for Christmas, our goal is to show them a generous amount of love.  A love that they may be receiving for the first time in their life, or just as importantly it is a love that they are receiving while in a very vulnerable state, a love from strangers that says, "You are special, you are not your circumstance, and we have so much hope for you and your future.  You are not forgotten and you are worthy."

    The definition of generous is this:
    Generous: Liberal in giving or sharing; unselfishness

    These past few weeks I have witnessed this definition in action.  The generosity that has poured out from others has left me absolutely speechless and at times in tears of joy.  We have had individuals who were foster children themselves who have poured out their empathy for these kids by blessing them with the most awesome gifts.  We have had people who have never even met a foster child but wanted to pour out their love to them and help make them feel special and honored.  There have been multiple children who have spent their own money to help another child in need.  Families who have very little took on more than one child to sponsor and gave all.  Communities and business came together, making a difference.  This process, this experience, has been overwhelming and the impact that single individuals are having on these children is what this entire season is about. 

 Matthew 25:  34-40
³⁴ “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. ³⁵ For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶ I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

³⁷ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸ When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? ³⁹ When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

⁴⁰ “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’

     Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Christ.  His birth was the beginning of the perfect gift....salvation.  Jesus did not come into this world and offer his gift to us begrudgingly, he offered himself in love and freely without expectation of anything in return.  Presently, Christmas is a day that we typically expect to "receive",......this year so many chose to give instead.  Not only did they give to these children but their service to the least of these also served Him.

    I can't thank Foster Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Vigor Ground Fitness Center, Rainier Christian Schools - Highlands Campus, and numerous friends of mine who took the initiative to sponsor a child and collect gifts for these kids.  My goal was to collect at least 100 gifts this year......my goal was exceed 5 times what I hoped.  The impact is greater than I could have ever dreamed and many more children will be blessed this Christmas because of all of you.  I thank you in a way that words cannot express, without you this would not have been possible.

     Merry Christmas and may many blessings be upon you this coming year.