I feel guilty. Our kids did such a great job decorating Christmas cards for families affected by the hurricane, and our families gave over $800 in gift cards and cash to those same families this past Sunday. Then I got to experience the joy of delivering those gifts today, which really cool but a little unfair. Every person who gave should have had the privilege of delivering those gifts personally. This post is my best effort to help each of you feel the way I did Monday.
I delivered a small gift and several cards to a family in Galveston whose home we had worked on after Ike. It was my first time to see the neighborhood since our last trip down there. The neighborhood itself is largely empty now except for construction workers. None of the families we helped are able live in their own homes yet. But the homes are starting to look like homes again, and demolition has given way to reconstruction. One of the homeowners showed me around today to see the progress, and I couldn't help but think that even if I had arrived empty-handed, just showing up today was a reminder that they were not forgotten.
We gave gifts to 4 families, including two single-parent households and a family of four in which both parents were laid off in the aftermath of Ike. When it was discovered that every Christmas card contained a gift card, I was actually questioned about whether I had made a mistake in giving so much to only one family. No, I said, no mistake. "It's Christmas."
"You all are wonderful people." If they only knew you as I do, they would know how true that is.
Spend less. Give more. Worship fully. May you and your family experience all the joy that Christmas represents. God is with us!
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