Tradition

This past week Sierra turned 9 years old. In the past, birthdays and holidays have been about receiving gifts. As we looked around, we realized our children have more than they will ever use. We also know there are children, and adults, that go without every day. So, we sat the kids down and talked to them about starting our own family tradition. Every birthday and Christmas, one of our gifts to them is to drive them to the Jesus House and let them give some of their things to a needy child. They were both excited, and accepting of the idea. So Sierra collected some of her items...a new coat she has outgrown, shoes, clothes, etc.. and we loaded it up and drove her downtown. When we arrived, we got out of the car and met a really nice man. He was so nice to Sierra and told her he knows a lot of sweet girls about her age that he has dinner with every night. He told Sierra he would make sure they knew that she brought the things "personally" to give to them.

As we drove away, Sierra had a huge smile on her face...and of course I was crying. What better gift to give a child...the gift of giving. We are pretty proud of our children, and hope that this will be a family tradition they will pass down to their children.

"Children are the living messages we will send to a time we will not see."
~John W. Whitehead