Blessed

I've been volunteering in Preston's class quite a bit this year and have gotten to know some of his friends. One day, I noticed that one boy in particular was wearing a sleeveless shirt, holey jeans and holey shoes- mind you, it was December. I was instantly pulled to prayer for this boy. I couldn't put this boy out of my mind. I thought of him constantly, prayed constantly. I shared my story to my mom and Grandma and we decided we should adopt his family. My mom got in contact with the principal and arranged for us to adopt them in complete anonymity (which is why I won't share their names.) We got them a lot of gifts and had them wrapped and ready for the mom to pick up at the school. I thought about this family a lot over Christmas break, especially Christmas morning as I imagined them opening their gifts. My mom and I wondered the other day what they thought of them. Tonight I sat down to check my email and got this message:

I just talked to Mrs. C. and she made me cry; she was giving me an update on the family we helped at Christmas.

She said that the mom came in that day before Christmas with a house coat, with no belt, on as a coat. She was crying when she realized that the boxes where all for them. She told her that a family friend of theirs had lost the mother of the family and they had given their Christmas money to that family for Christmas because they had lost their mom. So she was SO grateful for all that we did. Mrs. C. said that she saw J. in the lunch line Monday and asked him how was his Christmas, he said "Oh Mrs C. it was the best Christmas I ever had".

I feel more convinced now that God was using me as his steward for this family. Had I not been volunteering at Preston's school, I wouldn't have even known about this family, and they might not have had anything at all for Christmas since they gave their own Christmas money, when they had little of their own, to help another family that they felt was in greater need. God speaks to us in so many ways. We just need to slow down and listen. I've known for many years that I am extremely blessed, and tonight, I am even more blessed, to know that I made an impact on a family, and made their Christmas very special. I hope they can see that God is with them, and that even though they may have little material possesions, they truly are blessed.