Posted by: Kerrie
A few months ago our family decided to spend Christmas morning giving out wrapped presents to the homeless. We asked the kids what type of gifts they would like to buy and discussed different ideas as a family. We mostly decided on jackets, travel pillows, electronic pocket games and snacks. Madisson however wanted to something a little different. The following is her journel entry about her Christmas morning experience, she is 10yrs old.
David (a guy sitting at a bus stop)
*Before this, when we had decided to give presents to homeless people, I had said I wanted to give a backpack with a blanket, pillow, a game, and a Bible. My dad told me no, that the we really wanted to give out seperate gifts. My mom protested and told my dad to let me do it - it might be God telling it to me. Dad then agreed. She was right...
On Christmas morning, the first person we met was David. It was cold and rainy. We parked and Dad, Jake and Brooke got out of the car. Mom and I stayed in the car. Dad, Jake and Brooke took a Christmas present to him. The present held a shirt/jacket. One of the first things David said was, "Well yeah I'd like a Christmas present, I just got robbed last night. They took my backpack and everything I owned was in it." My dad was shocked, and said, "Well...we have a backpack!" David was excited and said, "You do!" Dad ran to the car and whispered, "Madi, Madi, he needs a backpack!" I reached behind and grabbed the backpack and we all got out and I gave it to David. He was very excited and said he had had one almost the same as the one I gave him. The backpack was black and gray, with the word Rebok on the front. Inside we put gum, granola bars and packs of peanuts. I also put a black and gray fleece jacket, a pillow and a pocket poker game. We talked and prayed with him and then we all hugged him. At first I didn't want to hug him. But Brooke and then Jake hugged him. It would be weird if I didn't hug him, so I hugged him and then we left. After we left we drove around looking for more homeless people. We got to see him while we drove and the first time we saw him, he had put on the black and gray fleece jacket and was holding up the first present we gave him, another jacket/shirt. The second time we drove by and saw him he had put on both jackets and was playing poker. That shows his thankfullness. Then we were driving and saw him walking to the salvation army. He had told us that on cold nights they let you sleep there. When we first saw David, he had a mustache and a beard and didn't have many layers on. He looked cold.
God talked to me...he told me to get a backpack. Then we met David and God showed me why. That was a miracle.
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3 comments:
Madisson, what you did was something that needs to happen every day. When I was in college, every single day I went to school, I would drive by a woman that was holding a sign "help me and my children." Now, she could have been a hoax for all we know, but everyday she was in the same place with the same sign. Everyday I knew I would pass the woman, I would bring her a bag full of food, books, clothes, dolls, anything I could find in my apartment that would bless a family. One day after giving day after day, I went home sobbing that she was still on the corner. I went home in tears after attending school. I wrote her probably a ten page letter of how I wanted to give her so much more. That I wish I had money to give her. That I wish I could feed her and her family every evening. That I would be open to her coming to my apartment to sleep in the cool air conditioning. That I would help her find work. That my heart was breaking because I saw her everyday and I knew how much I had and that I could never give her all I had, but I begged her to call me or see me if she needed anything in particular. After the day I gave her my heartfelt letter, I never saw her again. She never called me, she never was at the corner. She just disappeared. Was she an angel? Was she a scam? Was she touched by my heart breaking words? I don't know. But continue to do these things throughout the year. Not just on holidays. You never know what God will do. Madisson, you are the most sensitive and generous little girl. Continue to write in your journal your feelings and your desires. God will give you the desires of your heart and you will hurt for the broken and the poor. Ask God to help you to recognize a person at school that may not have all the food you do. Or that may not have friends. Or that is ridiculed. When you see someone your heart is hurting for, talk to your mom and dad and pray for a way that you may bless them. Maybe not in a materialistic way, but maybe just by your presence. Maybe just a kind word that will cause a chain reaction. I encourage you to read the book Rachel's Tears. She was a girl who died for Christ in the Columbine Highschool Shootings. She was so intouch with her feelings. And she was always reaching out to those who needed friends or needed encouragement. She was shot by another student who resented her because of what a good heart she had. I'm not saying to become a martyr. I just think that you are one of those people who are going to make a huge difference in the world because of how God made you. You have the heart of an angel. I am so proud of you. Pray for opportunities. Opportunities to maybe not "witness" with your words, but by your actions. And then do it in the name of Jesus when someone asks you why you have been so good to them. Tell them you are just doing what Jesus has done for you.
I love you precious girl. Love, Aunt Vicki
Madisson, what you did was something that needs to happen every day. When I was in college, every single day I went to school, I would drive by a woman that was holding a sign "help me and my children." Now, she could have been a hoax for all we know, but everyday she was in the same place with the same sign. Everyday I knew I would pass the woman, I would bring her a bag full of food, books, clothes, dolls, anything I could find in my apartment that would bless a family. One day after giving day after day, I went home sobbing that she was still on the corner. I went home in tears after attending school. I wrote her probably a ten page letter of how I wanted to give her so much more. That I wish I had money to give her. That I wish I could feed her and her family every evening. That I would be open to her coming to my apartment to sleep in the cool air conditioning. That I would help her find work. That my heart was breaking because I saw her everyday and I knew how much I had and that I could never give her all I had, but I begged her to call me or see me if she needed anything in particular. After the day I gave her my heartfelt letter, I never saw her again. She never called me, she never was at the corner. She just disappeared. Was she an angel? Was she a scam? Was she touched by my heart breaking words? I don't know. But continue to do these things throughout the year. Not just on holidays. You never know what God will do. Madisson, you are the most sensitive and generous little girl. Continue to write in your journal your feelings and your desires. God will give you the desires of your heart and you will hurt for the broken and the poor. Ask God to help you to recognize a person at school that may not have all the food you do. Or that may not have friends. Or that is ridiculed. When you see someone your heart is hurting for, talk to your mom and dad and pray for a way that you may bless them. Maybe not in a materialistic way, but maybe just by your presence. Maybe just a kind word that will cause a chain reaction. I encourage you to read the book Rachel's Tears. She was a girl who died for Christ in the Columbine Highschool Shootings. She was so intouch with her feelings. And she was always reaching out to those who needed friends or needed encouragement. She was shot by another student who resented her because of what a good heart she had. I'm not saying to become a martyr. I just think that you are one of those people who are going to make a huge difference in the world because of how God made you. You have the heart of an angel. I am so proud of you. Pray for opportunities. Opportunities to maybe not "witness" with your words, but by your actions. And then do it in the name of Jesus when someone asks you why you have been so good to them. Tell them you are just doing what Jesus has done for you.
I love you precious girl. Love, Aunt Vicki
madi's entry made me cry.
children are so beautiful and they can hear God so clearly.
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