Give Christmas Away

What's a person worth to you?

Subject: Rusty & Stacy's Más Christ/Give Christmas Away

This year will be our second annual Christmas gathering, Mas Christ/ Give Christmas Away. We’ll decorate a tree, share a big healthy meal, and do presents for the kids. Because our goal is to build integrity into the gifting process we will once again provide a cost conscious “store” where people can come and purchase presents for their kids with dignity. The hard part is conveying to you, our lifeline, how this simple gathering will enable us to strengthen and develop relationships that we pray will ultimately become transformative in nature. Because of this desire to build dignity within the process we will have a better chance of connecting with the people within our community in significant and authentic ways. The relationships we become part of will be prone to trust and honesty, but the real benefit will be the sense of connectedness and community that will continue throughout the year. To illustrate, Stacy would like to share one of the ongoing stories she is part of:
Kim and her one year old son, Nehemiah, live in our apartment community. Although we’ve had brief interactions, it has taken a while to earn the right to be in her life. One day while the boys and I were at Stewart-Lakewood library, which is walking distance to our apartments, I happened to see Kim with Nehemiah bundled and strapped into his stroller. As we exchanged hellos I noticed that Nehemiah appeared unusually lethargic. Upon further inquiry, Kim shared with me that he had just been diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia. I invited them over to our apartment so I could show her simple meals to improve his nutrition and that was the turning point. Now Kim attends my women’s meeting every Tuesday, we eat together at least 3 times a week, and I often have the privilege of driving her for doctor appointments, grocery runs, and necessities for Nehemiah. More important than the day to day stuff, though, is the fact that she feels like ours is a home where she can experience the love of God in a way which enables her to be strengthened for her journey. Like all of us she just needs a little help to become the person God designed her to be.
God is in the process of repositioning my point of view. I’m beginning to see these spaces in my life, small openings prepared especially for me where God allows me to step into someone else’s experience. As Kim and I spend time together my heart is expanding. As I try to be a blessing I receive a blessing, and as we grow together we are both enabled to share more fully in this life of grace. I get to experience first hand how Kim struggles to provide Nehemiah with healthy food, but also the ways in which providers struggle to determine who gets that food. Within these efforts I see where God has blessed us with a method of ministry that speaks to the deepest need in our lives, relationships. Most providers don’t see Kim; they see a number or a need or worse yet, because there is no relationship, they see someone who has to prove her need over and over again. It’s a humiliating process built around a simple assumption; I don’t know you and you’re probably lying.
For the past couple weeks Kim and I have been driving to different ministries searching for holiday assistance. Each trip opens my eyes to the effort Kim must put into providing for Nehemiah. Even though her desire is to work hard and provide for her son she was born with “a hole in her heart” which inhibits her aspirations. This means she is always at the mercy of another provider for things we take for granted like feeding our children, employment opportunities, and routine checkups. I watch with pain as she is humiliated in front of one more “provider” because she wants Nehemiah to experience Christmas. Each trip we come home with no luck. Restrictions like wrong age of child, wrong zip code, and wrong church. I began to get angrier with each disappointment. I wondered how she felt and I asked her to write a small story. This is what she wrote:

My Life by:
Kimberly J.

“My life is one of thing that I go threw some some time I don’t know how I am going to take care of my son but I do the best that I can. Some time it’s hard but I do it but I am trying every day. I do my best well that is all that I have to say about my my life.”

Then I asked her what life was like during the holidays and she continued:

“But there is more that I want say like when the holiday come up that times get hard trying to pay bills so I can get christmas gifts for my son like today that’s what I have been doing today but god is going work it out for me and my son so this is my life.”

Wow. I know stories are subject to interpretation but what I hear is how life can be reduced to two simple statements. As I become part of Kim’s story, I sometimes go to bed angry with the system. I ask myself over and over, “how can I bring God’s kingdom of grace into Kim’s life so that she doesn’t have to rely on the system, but on Christ.” This is what the hole in my heart for Kim yearns for, the people of God connecting with a broken system to bring about abundant life. I’m deeply moved that God would use me as part of the answer which is simply to share a meal, an ear to listen, and a hand up, not as a provider of services but as a friend. This is what the heart of our ministry is about; relationships fashioned by walking a shared path. With each step I find that the best I wanted for myself is nowhere near as beautiful or wonderful or difficult as the one I have walking with Kim. With each step I see Kim getting closer to her dream of not having to be part of the system but part of a family.
This year as we continue to love and support our neighbors, our metrics of success will revolve around three simple words; integrity, dignity, and trust. Three words inherent to the character and mission of Christ, a mission based on people not programs. We may live here but you are the integral piece that will enable us to improve the chances of Kim and Nehemiah, not just for Christmas, but for life. Maybe you’ll partner with us as we help Kim have a Christmas that speaks of an otherworldly love. Maybe you’ll decide to help support us as we help Kim all year. Or perhaps you would be willing to pass this letter on to someone who would benefit from investing in a community for God. Whatever way you choose to walk with us, we pray that you are ultimately brought into a deeper relationship with Christ, just as we have been blessed in our own walk by Kim. It’s the only investment worth making!

Sending you a big hug!!

Rustin, Stacy, Brighton, Keller, and Caiden
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