If you know me, you know that I'm generally pretty cynical when it comes to "wealthy suburban families' annual feel good contribution to the inner-city poor folk" type thing. (Which I'm sure is clear from the way I title it!) And on top of that, I'm not a real big fan of the "American Christmas." I don't think I'm a scrooge or whatever, I just think we have really distorted what is supposed to be an amazing season of remembering our complete poverty before God and the ridiculous love that He has that would lead Him to send Jesus to redeem what we severely messed up.
At my work, they do this Christmas connection/adopt a family type thing. We get to sign a few families we work with up to receive a gift up to $25 for each family member, anonymously given by those who have the resources to do so. If I'm honest, it's a really cool thing, and the type of thing my family has started doing the last few years to replace the "standard gift exchange" shenanigans. Two of the families that I signed up live together, and have become a pretty significant part of my life over the past 10 months. When I went to pick up the gifts from work today, and I saw this massive pile of gifts, I was in tears. Whoever did the buying went well over $25 a person. I was moved by such generosity, and humbled by my negative attitude going into the whole thing.
When I brought the gifts over this evening, I spent a couple hours just being with them and I got to watch everyone open 1 or 2 gifts... I think getting to deliver all these gifts was one of the most amazing gifts I have ever been given. To all of you who do similar gracious and meaningful acts during the holidays, thank you- on behalf of myself and the dear friends who are on the receiving end.
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