A Christmas Story
I was crying the night my father called …
My husband just walked out on me, and my two young boys. We had barely enough money for the rent, utilities, and food. My car was unreliable, and I did not know where to turn for help.
Christmas was coming in a couple of weeks, and being the mother, it would be up to me, to tell the children, that there will be no gifts under the Christmas tree this year.
You just can’t imagine, how difficult it was for me to do this.
It was just days before Christmas, and then, a letter came from my father who lived out of state, and with it was a check.
“I know you have been through a lot, these last few days,” he wrote.
“Get something for yourself too. You have been a good mother this year, and Merry Christmas.”
Words can not express, the look on my children’s faces, when they first came down the stairs, early that Christmas morning, expecting to find nothing, and seeing all the wonderful gifts under the Christmas tree…
This is a small verse which conveys what Christmas means to the Family of Saint James in Essex Junction, Vermont:
Every time a hand reaches out to help another, that is Christmas…
Every time someone puts anger aside and strives for understanding, that is Christmas…
Every time people forget their differences and realize their love for each other, that is Christmas…
May we make every day Christmas by giving from the heart, caring for others, and living in peace…
Our Christmas Outreach Ministry has been able to provide new, warm outerwear and a gift to over 300 Vermont children during the past 30+ years.
Neighbors Helping Neighbors, has been working with area community action agencies, to help provide much-needed warm winter clothing and a small gift on Christmas to children in our area. These gifts are delivered to the families so that they can be given to the children by the parents on Christmas morning.
Many of the families who need help are single moms with young children. We can’t expect to help everyone in need, but we hope to be able, with the help of the many devoted members of Saint James Church, to bring a small amount of joy into the hearts of these families.
The Family of Saint James will be sponsoring several area children again this Christmas. We will be given the first name of the children by the first Sunday after Thanksgiving.
Sponsorship involves purchasing one or more items, gift wrapping them, and delivering them to Saint James no later than December 17.
With great anticipation, we await Christmas morning, to get up and know that somewhere there is a mother watching the utter bliss on her children’ faces, as they unwrap these presents.
We don’t need to know who the family is, or see their faces. As loving parents, we can already imagine…
Thank you so much for all who will help make this Christmas a little better for some special children through our Saint James Christmas Outreach…
God Bless,
Neighbors Helping Neighbors