Our Christmas Boy

As we sat in church last Sunday and listened to the message on giving I knew the Lord was speaking to me. Our church had taken 100 kids (100 names) from the system that would soon be placed within a foster home to commit to giving them a Christmas. I wasn't aware of this, but they explained how between Thanksgiving and Christmas is usually when the biggest influx of children get taken out of homes and put into the system but because of the timing they can sometimes be the hardest to place within a home. 

 Just 3 weeks prior, while out shopping at Hobby Lobby with my friend Nina she had told me how she had filled out the paperwork_ they were going to be foster parents_ she had been praying about what the Lord would have her to do in this season of her life and both her & her husband had felt like this was it. 

I was blown away because this was the first time she had mentioned anything but so overwhelmed with hopefulness for the kids that I knew her family would be such a blessing to_ I began to picture those children in my head that would get loved on_ taught_ that would have stability.

So here I am sitting in church_ my heart already ripe from walking beside Nina & her family with fostering and the pastor is talking about these children and I know we need to sponsor one...but I'm so nervous because I know that we have just enough money to get what we need to have for our 3 children and family for Christmas... so I lean over to oldest and say "Grayson would you, middle, and youngest be willing to not have a stocking this year for Christmas so that we can take one of these children?" and immediately without hesitation he starts shaking his head yes... he knew too...

We get a 2 year old little boy who loves the Pittsburgh Steelers and wants a basketball goal_ basketball_and a football. Coincidence that this little 2 year old boy wants the same thing that my 12 year old son wants.... we don't think so. It all stands as confirmation to us that this was supposed to be our Christmas boy. And the fact that the Pittsburgh Steelers {Pennsylvania} hold such a special place in each of our hearts....not a coincidence. 

I cannot even begin to tell you how excited my kids were for this. 

I wanted it to be their thing. So they were the ones who picked out each item and they added 

everything up as we went along. We were able to get every item our Christmas boy had down on his list. Is this to boast in us and say look what we did...nope, it's to say look at Jesus and what He has done. This is the least we could ever do and I know people who took 4 & 5 kids home to sponsor which is so awesome... I pray we can eventually do that. I know our hearts are there. 

And I know this Christmas my kids eyes & affections were hopefully turned from themselves onto someone else as we talked about our little guy and what Christmas morning will be like for him now. 

And there hasn't been a day that has gone by that we haven't prayed for him_ called him by name_ wondered what he may be up to. 

When we dropped the gifts off to the location my kids kept asking if they were going to be able to meet him and I had to explain why they weren't going to, etc. They were so disappointed.... but all I could think about was one day we just may get to meet our Christmas boy..... one day. :)

Linking up for 

heather.