Merry Christmas!
The spirit of Christmas is overflowing in my heart. It is time to share the story of a little girl and her wish for Christmas.
In January 1990, my husband and I went to work in Cherokee, Texas at the Cherokee Home for Children. This happened at our first Christmas and we had no clue at what to expect, but we were about to. We were new Christians and so excited about working with His Kids! It must have been sometime in October, when we were told to help each child make a Christmas list. We were houseparents to 2 girls and 8 boys. The supporting churches started inviting us for church and dinner starting in November. We had turkey and dressing with all the trimmings every Sunday until Christmas. It was a beautiful feast but toward the end we really wanted a hamburger, potato salad, beans and ice cream. I fell in love with a little girl about 6 years old and I would do anything to make sure her day was full of all the love, I could give. Her big brown eyes turned my world into a melting pot. I loved all the children, but she had captured a special place in my heart..
Now please look at a map. Cherokee, Texas is the middle of nowhere. If you can find Llano or
San Saba, you are close. The nearest Walmart was 45 minutes away and shopping was limited to days off or if one of the children had a doctors appointment or special need. I was to busy to be concerned about shopping anyhow. Cooking and keeping up with the washing and paper work was a never ending mountain, accomplished only with the help of my Lord. He is the masterpiece of love. I loved the children and working for my Lord and Savior. I was blessed. My cup overflowed.
With my utmost being, I believe the little Cherokee girl loved me as much as I loved her. I still love that girl and get choked up thinking about her and the memories we shared. I will never forget the night, she asked me if it was ok "....to pray for dresses for Christmas." So the nightly prayer at her bed; on our knees, she prayed for dresses for Christmas and I said, "Amen." That is all she wanted. I was sure someone would buy her dresses for Christmas.
The Christmas parties on Saturday and Sundays consumed the whole month of December. The parties came by motor cycles, vans, and pick-ups full of gifts. I wondered why some of these people only remembered the children at Christmas. What about birthdays or a picnic in June or July? Each party was a time of gift giving. Each package was beautifully wrapped and right off the list. Except for the little Cherokee girl with the big brown eyes. No dresses! She never complained and I knew that God would provide what she wanted eventually. We continued to pray and pray for dresses. At the very last party of December, she still did not receive one dress. She had gifts but not what she asked for. Most of the children went home or to a sponsor for the holiday and the very next day she would leave without her new dress. I was sick with guilt. I could have bought her one, but it was to late to travel to the nearest store. I was sad that the Christmas wish list failed her...I had failed her!
Finally the last night before the little girl was to leave it happened. I remember the night as cold, foggy and a little past dusk. The highway was free from traffic. Everyone had gone home for Christmas. I was feeling sad about the Christmas with no dresses when a little pick up flew by in front of the home and out came a luggage type bag and laid in the middle of the road in front of our house. My husband went to retrieve it. We looked for a clue or any sign of ownership. No clue was to be found. It was full of beautiful wrapped gifts. No gift tags or names. I called the sheriff's department and reported the fly away suitcase. They had no report of a missing suitcase. The sheriff's office told us to open the packages the next day and keep the contents, if they didn't have an owner by then. The beautiful little brown eyed girl offered to help open the gifts the next morning, before she departed for Christmas break. Each beautiful wrapped gift and I believe there was 3 or 4, had a beautiful "Cinderella" dresses in size 6x. Just the size the little brown eyed girl had ask for. Her eyes lite up with the joy of Christmas... the dresses had arrived! Each one more beautiful than the last one. We never had a name to thank, but I know who it was. It was Jesus! He always makes a way.
I wanted to share this sweet story with you. It is the real meaning of giving and believing. Jesus would never disappoint a little girl that lived in a far away place with parents that were not her own. He is always on time. My faith grew that night and the story lives in my heart forever.
Cherokee Home still has children waiting for Christmas. Send some love to them. What is a little gift of money or love to make Christmas giving a time of real meaning? Keep all of the children that God loves in your prayers and the amazing places like the Cherokee Home for Children in your heart forever.
This last summer, I went back to Cherokee for a visit. Tears of joy and thanksgiving traveled back home with me that day. Cherokee blessed me! I have never forgotten the days I lived at Cherokee Home for Children. Jesus taught me how to be humble and loving there.
Thank you for letting me share my story with you. Where did all that time go? I have been blessed!
Reach out in love!
Love is in the ink.
Mary Kay
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