To understand my excitement about this event, there are two things you need to know about me: First: I LOVE the Christmas Season! Most of my best childhood memories are wrapped up in some festive Christmas memories of tree-hunting, decorating, Christmas cookie making, playing games with family, and making up dances and putting on shows with my cousins for the family on Christmas Eve! As I've gotten older, Christmas has become very different (now I'm the one stressing to find the perfect gift for everyone rather than finding everything I've wanted all year under the tree) but my feelings towards the season are just the same: I love Christmas music, and sweets, the cold (not in Texas but I dream about it), and gathering with family to celebrate the birth of our Savior! Second: My heart literally beats for children in need. I am a girl who would lay in my bed at night as a kid thinking things like: "I'm going to adopt kids instead of giving birth because how can I bring a child into the world when there are already kids here without moms?" (Obviously, my thoughts on child-bearing have changed because I am in LOVE with my son, but my love for adoption is still just as strong). I spend hours regularly searching through the Texas database of children available for adoption, reading profiles, dreaming of one day bringing one of those smiling faces into my own home. And I ugly cry-makeup streaming down my face-SOB whenever I watch a video of teenagers who are about to age out of the foster system talking about how their biggest dream in life is to have a permanent family (but i still regularly watch these videos because I love stirring up the desire in my heart for these kids). I really look forward to the day when God opens the door for our family to adopt and I know that right now he is preparing us for that day. Parenting is a difficult and exhausting endeavor and I know I need a lot more practice before we bring foster children into our family but Percy and I are always talking about ways that we can and should get involved now. So imagine my excitement when I found out that Real Hope Community Church is partnering with Parks Youth Ranch to spend Christmas dinner with the teenagers who live there! For those who aren't familiar, Parks Youth Ranch is a non-profit shelter for homeless and at-risk teenagers. They provide a home and necessities for these kids who for one reason or another, usually due to abuse or neglect, find themselves without a family or place to live. i love this opportunity, not just because it's a way to give back, but because of the way we're giving back.Now let me clarify, because I know that sounds confusing. Our family has a little more experience with this type of thing than the average volunteer because of our time spent as houseparents at a Children's home in the DFW area. Christmas time at the Home was INSANE! We had multiple Christmas parties every week starting after Thanksgiving break and the kids got SO MANY PRESENTS that we shoved tons of them in the top of closets and brought them out periodically throughout the year, and they lasted ALL year! Now, before it sounds like I'm dogging on giving presents to children in need, let me assure you, I am not. It is a GREAT way to give during the holiday season and if families and organizations didn't take the time to do so, these kids wouldn't have gotten anything for Christmas-and that's just awful! So I'm not saying that you shouldn't buy presents for children and families in need, but what I am saying is that MANY people love to give back and are delivering toys to children in need. What we gathered by being on the receiving side of these opportunities was that yes, these kids had an AWESOME Christmas, as they should, but as much as they enjoyed the gifts, they desired attention and quality time with people that they could form relationships with. Though these toys made the children happy, they didn't make any lasting impact on their lives. And I think that is something that not many people think about: rather than just investing in toyboxes, let's invest our time in getting to know those less fortunate than ourselves. lets invest our resources in the character and futures of people in need.And that's why I'm so excited about this opportunity to serve with Real Hope Community Church at Parks Youth Ranch. It gives those of us with a desire to help, the chance to spend time with kids who need mentors and friends, it gives us the opportunity to say "You matter....You matter enough to me to spend my holiday with you." And I really think that's one of the greatest gifts we can give this season: letting someone know that people care for them.After all, that is what Christmas is all about... celebrating the birth of the One who cares the most for us! This is a real opportunity to BE JESUS to some kids in need. Real Hope Community Church is organizing this opportunity but it is not only for those who attend Real Hope. ANYONE is welcome to join us at Parks Youth Ranch. If you would like to join us for Christmas Dinner, click here! Imagine if tons of people showed up to eat, fellowship, and play games with these kids who have noone else to spend Christmas with? I really think it would make for a great Christmas memory for all involved! Also, this is not a one and done opportunity. RHCC hopes that this event will continue to build a partnership with Parks Youth Ranch that will last beyond one meal and that many meaningful relationships will begin on Christmas Day! If you will be out of town or otherwise unable to attend but you would like to participate by sending food or paper supplies we would be more than happy to take it with us! Please just contact us and we will set up a time to meet with you! Thanks for reading a letting me share my excitement with you! Wishing you all a Merry Christmas! |
Marin HudsonMarin likes to stay up late and write. But sometimes Percy will write as well. :) Archives
October 2017
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