We have two youth programs each week. “Tutoring Tuesdays” is for children ages 5 to 11. Our Upper Room youth group, for middle and high school students, meets on Thursdays. Once a month we have 30 minutes of adoration for each group. It’s a treasure to bring God’s children to Him in adoration. One little girl always sits the closest she can to the sanctuary, and her favorite song is “Good Father.” I have to hold back tears whenever she sings it, because I’m aware her dad walked out on their family last year. God is her Father and He is only and always good. This week during adoration we were preparing the children for Christmas.
Sister asked, “What do you want to give Jesus for Christmas?”
She whispered, “A teddy bear, and my heart.”
There’s another family that we’ve known for many years. The father died and the mother who’s simple and illiterate is doing the best she can for her four children. Nearly two years ago they were ousted from their apartment because of a fire on the floor below them. They’ve been homeless ever since, bouncing between family, friends and rented rooms. The youngest, an eight-year-old girl, captured my heart last year. At our youth group Christmas party each child received one gift. As she unwrapped her gift her joy couldn’t be contained. She took ten minutes to unwrap her one gift. Her amazement, giggles and even tears kept her at a slow, expectant pace. Never have I seen such pure joy.
A girl and a baby doll.
The Virgin and the infant Christ.
May this Advent be one of expectant joy. Our good, good Father gives us His only Son to be Emmanuel – God with us! How will you prepare your heart to receive the Child Jesus this Christmas? And what will you give Jesus? A teddy bear, your heart?
- Sr. Elizabeth Marie of the Child Jesus, CFR