“Mom, I don’t want to stay here for Christmas. I want to go
to Mimi’s!”
“But Jayden, this is where we live. Why don’t you want to be
home for Christmas?”
“Because Santa doesn’t come to Honduras! Why not mom? Why?”
I had to think. I wasn’t sure how to respond. I let the
words I had just heard sink in. How do I defend this? Does it really need a
defense? I was frustrated by his persistence on something so insignificant.
Christmas. A celebration. A party of sorts in remembrance of
our SAVIOR! He didn’t say Christmas doesn’t come to Honduras. He said
SANTA. We have spent the last
couple days preparing for Christmas at the orphanage. He has begged for every
nativity scene to come home with us because we need to have Baby Jesus under
our tree. He gets the reason behind the season I love. What he doesn’t get is why
Santa doesn’t come here with all the pretty packages.
At first, I thought this was awful. This child of mine that
wasn’t grasping the reason Santa is not in Honduras. Then I remembered a note
that I received from the director of his school. “Jayden is the first in his
class to help and give to another student in need.” The thought was reassuring in the moment. The kid that makes
once a week visits to the school nurse. The English speaking kid that gets in
trouble every week for speaking too much Spanish in school. The kid that is too
rough for his age, and while the teacher says he is just playing, some how the
other students tend to get hurt. That kid. He is my little giver. My helper. I
quickly had flashbacks of how many times I would yell for him to stop giving
away his toys because he wouldn’t have any left. Then I remembered the days we
couldn’t buy groceries and he would give away his last cheese stick to the
little girl that came and begged at the gate. If anybody understands the giving
principal it is him. He gets it so well. He thinks Santa should be giving too.
It is the poverty and dirt he does not see.
He lives surrounded by the poverty in this country. He has
helped feed the poorest of the poor. He plays with them. Laughs with them. And
he has helped them brush off the dirt as they stand up from falling off the
rocks outside the feeding station. How do I explain that the families can’t
afford presents without ruining the mystery of Santa? The real reason there are
no pretty packages is because of the poverty that surrounds us?
He has asked why I haven’t started preparing the baskets for
our kids. He likes to put in the drink packets. How do I explain that this year
the ministry doesn’t have the funds for Christmas baskets so we aren’t giving
to all the families at the feeding station? We only have enough for some
families so we have plenty of time to get it done.
I have similar thoughts to his all the time.
I have turned down at least one new child every day over the
past week. I pray that God sends someone to meet their needs so they don’t go
to bed hungry at night because I can’t bring them home. I sob as I try to go to
sleep feeling an agony so deep that it pierces my soul in an excruciating way.
“God, let them know they are loved!”
I went last week to meet with a girl that is not just wanting
placement, but needs it. I want to say yes. I just can’t right now. On the way
home I stopped to pick up one last ingredient for the Christmas cookies we were
going to make that evening. As I stood in the check-out lane Jayden picked up
some “pretties”. With all of his
excitement “Look it! Look it!! Mom!!! Look at this!!!” I reluctantly turned to
let him know I was sort of paying attention. “Can we get this for the new girl
for Christmas? She would like it!”
How do I explain to a four year old that has more compassion
than I do, the reason I can’t bring home more kids?
I think every year Open Doors makes a plea for help with
Christmas baskets and Christmas presents.
My plea is for something more. It is for consistent monthly
support. It is for families to “adopt” a child from afar and send them support
so they can feel and experience the love of a Savior. What if this year instead
of sending corporate gift baskets a corporate sponsorship of a child was made?
What if instead of a gift to someone that already has everything, you gave in
their honor to someone with nothing?
I think it would be great to play Santa all year. Not just stopping in the month of December. Giving a gift that will continue to impact and change a life. Making a difference. If that is something that would interest you please go to our website and donate now! Help us continue to be a blessing!
