Each year at Harmony Heart Camp, we would host a Christmas event for the families from Newark and Chester. One year, we had the largest turnout ever, but the family atmosphere was not lost. I want to tell you about one family's experience.
Saturday afternoon the dining hall was filled with laughter and the smell of candy and icing. Dawn and Henry sat across the table from each other with a bare gingerbread house between them. All around them families were already well on their way with ideas spinning and colorful decorations being glued on with icing. But Dawn and Henry were not making any progress. They had each selected a bowl full of assorted candies for decorating, but they were overwhelmed by the task and were not sure where to begin. Dawn was especially concerned that they might not do it right.
I stopped by several times and encouraged them to just begin and launch into it. I told them there was no set way or pattern, and that this was for them to create any way they wished. As Henry added a few decorations, Dawn was still unsure. I found a volunteer to assist them and Dawn welcomed the help. I think she expected her helper to just do the decorating for her. But instead, the volunteer patiently asked questions, made suggestions and encouraged Dawn in selecting candies and fastening them with icing. In the end, Dawn and Henry had a unique creation all their own. Though they were a bit self-conscious of their work, they were proud of their accomplishment.
Sunday after lunch we gathered everyone in the chapel. Under the Christmas tree was a gift-wrapped, open top box for each family. As I prepared to begin, Fred, Dawn's 11-year-old son, looked up at me and asked, “When do I get my present?” His mother quickly corrected him and then explained that he was particularly excited about receiving a present.
After the presents were passed out and the wrapping paper was being cleaned up, I made my way around the room watching and listening to the excitement. I found Fred and asked what he got. His eyes got huge as he exclaimed, “A basketball!” He and his mother went on to explain that this was Fred's first Christmas present. At first I thought they meant his first of this Christmas, but they made it clear that it was his first Christmas present ever! What a blessing for Dawn to be able to reach into their family package, pull out Fred's gift, hand it to her son and watch him open it. What a blessing to be able to give this family such a gift.
Merry Christmas from World Impact! Read more of our Christmas blogs below: