Excited boys and girls trotted in a circle, a huge
Christmas tree in the middle.
“This party is a blast.” Joe, fifteen, breathless
from the dance, nudged his twelve-year-old sister.
“Lots of food,” Tracy muffled through a mouthful of
chocolate cake.
“Wait until you see the gifts,” screamed George, a
lanky seventeen year old.
It
was an annual program, The Angel Tree Christmas Party, Joe and Tracy’s first time. The
last two Christmases were far from this. Alone, cold, dirty and hungry, they
scavenged for food. Apart from the few dollars they got from sympathizers, the
garbage cans were filled with delicious scraps. Tracy even dug out a big,
round, untouched Christmas cake, still wrapped in foil. They named it their
Christmas present from God.
Joe often wondered why they were different from
others. Even when their parents were around, food was hard to get. Why were
they poor? Why did their dad come home drunk most times? Why did he often beat
their mum? Why did he beat her so hard that day that she died?
That was three years ago…
Shrieks of laughter broke into his thoughts. One of
the clowns had hopped into the pool. He couldn’t swim, desperate, he yanked off
his outlandish costume, revealing a very frightened teenager. His crumpled face
produced more laughter.
“Who would have guessed Fred played the clown.”
George enthused.
“You know him?” Joe asked.
When
George’s dad was in prison, he encountered the Prison Fellowship Ministries,
became a Christian and registered George to receive Christmas Presents.
The neighborhood church supported him and his mum and helped them maintain
contact with his dad. When his seven-year term ended, the family rededicated
their lives to Christ and coordinated their church’s Angel Tree Outreaches. George met Joe and Tracy at
one of the programs. The three of them formed a fast friendship.
“Common, this is my favorite part.” George urged Joe
and Tracy towards the tree. “Every present has a name tag. Look for your name
and see what your dad sent to you.”
Joe’s eyes filled with tears when he saw a digital
photo camera. He had wanted one for so long. He looked closely at the tree to
see if there was an angel on it. Only an angel would know what he really
wanted. Only an angel would be so good to them. Tracy screamed for joy when she
sighted a big white teddy bear she had always admired in the shop down the
street. They also got pictorial copies of the bible. Now they can read about
their bible heroes.
Like
Joe, Tracy and Fred, there are 1.7 million children of inmates, stranded
and lonely, not only at Christmas, but all year long.
In
Matthew 25:43-46, Jesus said, “…I was …naked, and you clothed me not…in
prison, and you visited me not… Inasmuch as you did it not to one of the least
of these, you did it not to me… And these shall go away into everlasting
punishment…”
Please,
do not turn away from helping. Join Angel Tree to share gifts and the
gospel with children of inmates. Help provide Christmas Presents and
other gifts of love. This is “pure religion and undefiled before God…” James
1:27
Donate
and enjoy earthly and eternal rewards. Remember, Christianity is all about
giving and service. The religion God accepts as pure and faultless involves
looking after those in need.
Donate
today.
Be
the Angel in the tree.
Visit http://www.angeltree.org/angeltreehome
Grace is a Writer,
Editor and Proofreader. She teaches Writing Classes and motivates young writers
to write and publish their works. Her passion is to empower people through
knowledge sharing. She is the initiator of the Christian WAR Forum.
E-mail - penparables@gmail.com
©2012
PenParables
Publishing
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website, newsletter, or eBook, on the condition that you agree to leave the
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