Merry Christmas to All!

I can't sleep.

No, not because of insomnia, but because of excitement. You see, I am going to bring Christmas this year to three kids that have never had a Christmas. Here's the story...

My Aunt has three kids  as neighbors (all under the age of 8) who have never had a Christmas before. Sure they know what Christmas is, but they've never had presents. Their parents' have told them that is there is no Santa, so that is why they have never gotten presents. So, while I can fully understand a person's decision not to convince their kids there is a Saint Nicholas, it breaks my heart they've never gotten a single gift at Christmas time.

These same kids have never had a birthday party. Not any of them. They've never had cake and icecream and a day just set aside special only for them.

Their parents have told them its because there are too many of them and they can't afford those things. And while that may very well be true, it breaks my heart all the same.

It takes a LOT to make me cry. I mean, I am the girl that laughs during sappy chick flicks (even one's where the main characters die) and shows very little tender emotions as a general rule. Yet, when my Mom was relaying the story to me tonight, it took every fiber in me not to break down in tears.

These three small kids are too poor to celebrate their birthdays. Too poor to have gifts at Christmas. The oldest child, a girl, is ashamed to go to school and hides from the school bus because there are kids on the bus that make fun of her for the clothes she wears to school each day. She wears flip flops well into the winter months because she says her parents are too poor to afford new shoes.

It kills me to see people like this. No matter what the reasons they have for being this way.

Each Christmas I try to buy a gift for a kid that I think could greatly use it. Usually, this involves that little Salvation Army tree at Wal-Mart. This year, however, I have decided to "adopt" my Aunt's neighbor kids as my "Christmas Kids."

My Aunt took them some used clothes that had belonged to my little cousin and she said they were so excited to get these things. Used items. Things others throw out. And they were thrilled to see them as their own.

Its not about charity. Its not about the Christmas season or Santa Claus. Its completely about doing what feels right in my own heart.

So this year, these kids will have their Christmas. The first one ever.

When December rolls around I will make sure they have gifts to open. They will have new clothes, toys, books, whatever I can afford to buy them. I send money to charities, but the need is great right in my own community. So this year, I'm spending my hard earned money a little closer to home.

If its the last thing I do, these three kids will have Christmas this year.  :-)