For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9
There's an organization called Prison Fellowship that minsters to the incarcerated and their families. It was started by a fellow named Chuck Colson, who himself spent some time in jail related to the Watergate scandal (if I'm remembering correctly.)
They have a program at Christmas called Angel Tree, where prisoners sign up asking generous folks like you to buy a gift for their child. Leading up to Christmas, many churches will have a tree with little paper angels on them, bearing the name and age of a child for whom a gift is needed.
The time for getting a gift yourself has passed, but there's still time to participate. On this map you can see how many children still need gifts in different states. Pennsylvania, for example, still needs over 700; Illinois, over 1500!
God's gittin' to me this Christmas and was convicting me about not drawing my kids into thinking about giving in response to God's great gift to us. And I was reminded of Angel Tree!
You can check out the site above to choose a child, even one of a specific age - maybe choose a child or more for the ages of your own kids! It's a minimal amount, about $12/child, but it will make a profound difference in the life of that child and his or her parent who cannot be with them this Christmas.
Dare I say it again: MERRY CHRISTMAS!
our church sponsors (if that is the right word...) angel tree too! how funny to read about it on your blog (and i think i notices something on fb as well!). 'tis the season to give for we have been given much!!
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