The following is a sentimental Christmas story that has no pictures. It also mentions God. So if don't want to read anything that's going make you feel all warm and fuzzy and think about all the blessings you have in your life, skip it.
Six years ago I was teaching elementary students in a day treatment program. Working with students who came from very disadvantaged backgrounds gave me a new perspective of the many blessings I had in my life. As the holidays approached, I felt overwhelmed by the onslaught of the annual holiday consumerism. It felt so incongruent to what I was taught what Christmas was meant to celebrate.
My little class of twelve students had been talking about giving to our communities and I thought it would be a great idea to find a project for them to get involved in. We decided as a class to do a coat drive to help those in need. It would be our way of "giving back." We mapped a plan together. The students chose to call it "Coats for Kids." We would make flyers and take them home to our families and distribute them about the small school. I asked them how many coats we should we try to collect. One student suggested we collect 12 coats, another suggested 6, and then a kindergartner in the first row piped up, "I think we should do 634". I took a deep breath. Many of these kids would be on the receiving end for local charities themselves. How could we possibly get together 634 coats? I suggested we take a moment, think about the number in our hearts, and then vote on the number of coats we should work for. I was hoping this would the kids a chance to really reflect on what we could do. I wanted it to be their choice, it was after all their project. We then voted. We had a few votes for 12 coats and then the students felt bold enough to propose 37 coats. This inspired the kindergartner to raise up of of his chair turn to the class and plead with his toothless lisp, "Ms. Walker has told us we can do anything we want if we work hard enough. I know if we work together, we can do this."
In two sentences this young five year old had presented an argument with which no one could disagree, including myself. All the students voted for the number 634. The kids were so confident we would get bag loads of coats, I realized that given their circumstances, this was not likely. These kids all had come from very difficult backgrounds often headed by single mothers who had financial difficulties. Most students were survivors of physical and sexual abuse. They had learning challenges, behavioral challenges, and emotional challenges. In fact some days, it felt as if there were no areas of their young lives that hadn't been challenged. There was no other class in the district I would rather have been teaching. That night after I had put my own children to bed, I knelt and offered a simple but heartfelt prayer with tears in my eyes, "Lord, please give these kids something to believe in. Please help us make our goal."
My confidence was nothing like that of the kids. We would count the items in the donation box first thing each morning. They were thrilled when two coats were in the box. "We're almost there!", my kindergartner would yell out. We had two students that everyday managed to slip their own coat in, despite the cold weather. Our flyers went to other classes, staff, and faculty but the items in the box remained few. I continued to pray. My sweet husband and I would wrap up our small children each night and pass out our class flyers to neighbors, family, friends, and those from church asking for their help to pitch in. Still our class had little to show for all our work. I can't tell you the desperation I felt the kids continued to demonstrate complete faith in our goal. But I wondered to myself, what I would tell my students when we fell so short. My family increased our prayers. Suddnely as the final days counted down, the coats flooded in. These children whose families had so little gave so much. People from school, family, friends, neighbors, church members, and complete strangers responded to our flyers. When the deadline came, our class tallied over 1,000 winter items. All of which was due to a little boy who believed and those who wanted to share. Not only was my prayer for my class answered, but a five year old's vision was realized and many bodies that were cold that winter felt relief. One of the students did choose to give his own coat, against my wishes but with his mother's support. Under his tree that year he found a new coat donated by some anonymous giver. Words cannot express how special that Christmas was to our family. That experience has been a poignant reminder of how the service we choose answers the prayers of others in so many ways.
For the last five years our family has continued the tradition of a clothing drive with our friends and neighbors in the Ranches for the local shelters. We collect warm winter clothing, shoes, household items, such as dishes and sheets. The items we gather will go to a number of places including Catholic Community Services. They will benefit those who are homeless, immigrant families and victims of domestic violence who are working to build new lives. This service project is for anyone who wants to help out and make a difference in the lives of others.
We invite you to join us at our open house this Monday at 7pm at 1983 West Ranch Road in Farmington. We'll have good food with friends and some great music. Since I've been out of town, our neighbors have kindly offered to take the reins and hold the event at their home. A huge thank you to Jason and Jen. The kids in my Sunday School class have worked together to design and pass out flyers. So thank you to Karson, Shalisse, Brady, Kami, Corrine, and Weston. They are also working with kids from their schools to gather items. I just have to say they are some of my favorite teenagers ever. After December 1st, items can be dropped off at my house until December 20th. We actually collect items year round, so be thinking of us in the future:)
The Tonga Travel Log was delayed due to lack of technical support. I'll just say it was AMAZING! The adventure begins tomorrow. Stay tuned!
