Last year for the first time we gave a little girl a bike for Christmas because she wasn't going to have a Christmas. It was such a great feeling to do something for someone. We left that family's house and went to have dinner. While eating our waitress walked over and said a family that had just left wanted her to give us this and handed us a napkin. Inside that napkin was some money with a note and scripture. Talk about amazing!
This year I reached out for weeks asking people if anyone knew of someone in need. No one answered and as Christmas quickly approached I thought we wouldn't be able to find anyone. We didn't want to join in with the big organizations, we wanted something that we could directly do. A friend of mine on Facebook, her friend posted asking anyone if they knew of any organization to help a family that would not be able to afford Christmas. My Facebook friend immediately contacted me and got me in touch with her friend. Turns out the friend knew a family that really needed some help. It was a mother and father that had a 10 year old little girl. The father's company he worked for closed down leaving him without a job. He was able to find another job but they were really broke from being in between jobs. This was a perfect family to help. I found out a couple things the girl wanted and did purchase them but I was lead to do more. For the past couple week I've been asking people to donate food and other household items and then it hit me to have Ricky ask his company if they wanted to help. Last week at their weekly meeting with the branch, Ricky told everyone about this family's story and asked if they'd want to help us help them. Everyone was willing to help. How amazing is this?! The cut off for us to collect things is today and I talked to Ricky a few minutes ago and he said his boss's office is full of stuff for this family. I am amazed and so very thankful.
Ricky and I don't have endless amount of money in the bank. In fact, we live on a budget and sometimes our budget is stretched very thin but we are so rich. Riches are not that dollar amount in your accounts it's what you realize you've been blessed with. There have been so many times when things have been pretty bad for us but we've always been unexplainable blessed. We might get a check in the mail, I might find a good deal with coupons, gas prices drop, etc. What I'm saying is Faith in God has pulled us through so many hard times. I really use to stress out on how we'd make it on one income with the expenses we have but I rarely stress anymore. I know He will provide for us because we have Faith and we work hard.
I believe it is our responsibility to pay it forward. God didn't have to bless us with our babies living let alone bless us with having babies at all. We are undeserving blessed and it's the least we can do. I challenge each person that reads this to take a moment and acknowledge everything you've been blessed with. It could be your health or your home. I then challenge you to go out and pay it forward. You never know when you might be the one needing a hand up.
Christmas isn't about things. While we are unwrapping our presents with the fancy paper and pretty bows, there are so many praying for the necessities like a roof over their head or food to eat. Christmas is a day to celebrate Jesus' birth. When I think about Jesus all I can think about his compassion for others and it inspires me and my family. We've been reading Christmas books since December 1st and it warms our hearts to have our children no matter the book, point to Jesus in the manger and say "Jesus!". There is a song I love by the Casting Crowns called Jesus, Friend of Sinners. My favorite part is this: "Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks yours" Powerful.
I hope each and every one of you have the best Christmas this year and that 2013 will be a healthy, successful, and happy year.
BL3SSED,
The Patton Family
*Thank you to Aunt Judi & Uncle Daryl for the Christmas cards and Christmas money for the kids.
* Thank you Aunt Cathy & Uncle James for the Christmas card and Christmas money for the kids. Each year each of you never forget my family and you've never even met our babies. It's appreciated very much and we love you all so much. Thank you.
*Thank you to Granny & Big Dad for the card, book marks, and Christmas money for the kids. We appreciate you thoughtfulness very much.
*Thank you to everyone that took time out of busy schedules to send us a Christmas card. We really appreciate you thinking of us.
