I told Mrs. Taylor about our family Christmas service project we are doing this year - donating christmas gifts to Primary Children. She was so excited and she wanted her whole class to join us. Lota’s classmates and their parents embraced the idea. Some faculty members also brought donations. One runner friend of Lota's even sent gifts through the mail that her grandson helped her picked out for our family to donate. These acts of kindness are just a few examples of the many kindness we’ve received this year.
Yesterday the kids woke up early to wrapped boxes to put the gifts in. They were very excited.
Once everything and everyone was ready we made the drive down to Primary to make the delivery. There wasn’t enough room in our Yukon, so each child had to hold their box on their lap the whole way. It was a tight squeeze but no one complained. We sang christmas songs with an occasional break for a little hip-hop and R&B to keep Daddy awake at the wheel :o).
At the hospital we were greeted by the beautiful Katherine, social worker of the Neuro-Trauma unit and a member of the Primary Children Hospital Foundation. Lota was our spokeperson. He thank Katherine for everything Primary did for him and he wished her a Merry Christmas. They hugged.
We visited a little longer and then we said good-bye. As I got in the car, I noticed Tai, my artistic, quiet and loving 10 year old sitting with her head down. I can see she is crying. I can tell she was trying really hard to stop it; to hide it. But the tears kept coming. It was out of her control. Her Dad and I asked her why she was crying. She mumbled "I don't know”.
I asked her whether she’s crying because she’s happy or sad or confused. With a little titter she shyly admitted "I really don't know”.
It was that moment that it hit Keith and I. Our sweet Tai was experiencing the true magic of Christmas; her tears are tears of joy - the overwhelming joy we get when we give selflessly. Both Keith and I held her and told her that what she was feeling was the overwhelming joy of giving, of putting other’s need before our own. We told her that she was experiencing the real magic of Christmas - The Christmas Spirit.
She smiled shyly and nodded.
That was a powerful moment to experience as a parent.
Our whole family want to say Thank you to each and everyone of you that have made a difference in our lives this year. Thank you for kneeling in prayers for our family especially our Lota. Thank you for the many acts of kindness you have done for us - from encouraging messages, to caring for our other kids, to cutting our grass all summer long, the generous financial help you sent our way, to gifts and the list goes on. Please know that every act of kindness you have done for our family, whether big or small has made a difference with our fight.
This journey has been a rollercoaster of emotions. But with hardship comes strength, resilience and perseverance. We will continue to fight harder and stronger because we have hope and we know God is only a prayer away. We pray that each of you get to feel the Christ-like love we are feeling today. We wish this overwhelming joy we feel for each one of you and everyone around the world.
From our Family to Yours - Merry Christmas and a Happy and Safe 2016.
God Bless.
PS: Lota is recovering well. He is starting to build up his endurance by running on the treadmill here at home. He can't wait to get back on the trail again.
No comments:
Post a Comment