Sometimes in the hustle and bustle of the season, we forget the true meaning of Christmas. So many times we look at Christmas as a time to receive when we should look at it as a time to give. Just as God gave us the most wonderful gift of all, his son Jesus.
But from the time we are very small we think of Christmas as a time to get all the things we want. I remember as a child planning exactly what I wanted to ask Santa for. You know the list had to be perfect; as you only had one shot to get what you wanted. Then Christmas morning I would wake up with much anticipation (most of the time awoken by my little sister, who I swear didn't sleep at all Christmas Eve night:) as I just knew Santa had brought me all the things on my list. It wasn't until I was much older that I realized that wasn't how it worked for many children around the world. But not only children around the world, but children in our own neighborhood. Many children wake up to nothing or very little on Christmas. Some children don't know what it is like to even have presents under their tree.
For the past few years my mom and dad have started a place for under privileged children in Enoree, SC. My sister and I along with our husbands have the privilege of helping out with these amazing children. Kidztation offers these children a safe place to go on Friday nights, but most of all a place where they can learn that there is someone who loves and cares about them. Sometimes I think these children teach me more than I teach them. The real life lessons that I didn't know existed until much later in life are these kids reality.
This Christmas is Kidztations third year of giving Christmas to these amazing children. We started with about 15 our first Christmas; and this year we gave Christmas to over 53 children. Thanks to the help of some wonderful volunteers of both their time and money:)
While collecting the trash, I came to this little girl. The most precious child you will ever meet. I was going to take her paper, and she asked me if she could have it. Of course, I said OK without thinking much about it. It wasn't until I came back by her that I realized she had saved the tape as she opened the presents and was wrapping them back up. Not sure what she was doing, I explained to her that the presents were hers' that she could take them with her. She simply responded, "I am wrapping them back up, so we have presents under our tree.". It was this moment that impacted my life for ever.
The joy of a child is unspeakable. I would like to think that these children will remember this Christmas for the rest of their lives. But even if they grow up and forget, I will never forget the look on these children's faces as they opened their gifts. It was as if we had gotten them everything on their Christmas list. I am so grateful to have been a part of bring Christmas to children who otherwise might not have had a Christmas.
Kyleigh like most little girls loves Hannah Montana. She is quit sure that she wants to be just like her when she gets bigger:) Getting bigger in itself is a miracle for Kyleigh. See Kyleigh was born 3 months early and only weighed a little over 2lbs. She would fit in the palm of your hand. Kyleigh's first crib was in the PICU where she stayed for almost 3 months. Four years later, Kyleigh is a perfectly healthy little girl who suffered none of the side effects they originally predicted from being born early.
