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 Christmas is right around the corner and churches across the country are working hard to make sure that more than 500,000 children whose parents are in prison can have something to look forward to this holiday season. For many, giving a gift to a child in need means a simple trip to Target, but for five kids from Indiana, it meant giving up their own Christmas presents.
The Smiths, of Monterey, IN, knew what it was like to wonder if Christmas was going to happen. Chris Smith, 37, and his wife, Tabi, 35, worked outside the home and home- schooled their five children, ages 9 to 17, at the same time. Although Chris, a supervisor at a factory, and Tabi, a manager at Dairy Queen, made enough to put food on the table, Christmas presents were not always a possibility.
But, their financial situation didn’t keep the Smiths from contributing to Angel Tree.
Tabi Smith’s interest in prison ministry began seven years ago when she saw a two-part program in the local news about 3 inmates who had become Christians while in prison. Tabi sensed God calling her to write to these prisoners. “For three days I wrestled and argued with the Lord that I didn’t want to write any prisoners,” she said. “He won!” So she began corresponding with four inmates at the state prison, two in a county jail, and one at a correctional facility in Illinois. As she continued to write, her heart for those behind bars grew.
When the Smith’s church, Culver Bible, decided to sponsor Angel Tree children two years ago, Tabi was thrilled. “It was a way for us Christians on the ‘outside’ to fill the gap for those on the ‘inside’ by stepping up and helping a parent do something for their children that they cannot do themselves.” She encouraged her five children, ages 9 to 17, to participate by selecting the names of prisoner’s children off the tree.
But finances posed a problem. Chris and Tabi decided that they would not have enough money that year to buy gifts for Angel Tree children and provide gifts for their own kids. “We’ve never been overly blessed as far as finances go,” Chris said. “When the time came to choose whether to participate in [Angel Tree], we told the kids we had ‘x’ amount of dollars to spend at Christmas.”
Chris and Tabi sat the kids down and gave them the choice—they could either receive Christmas gifts or purchase gifts for Angel Tree children with the money that would have gone toward their own gifts. All five children chose Angel Tree.
“I was glad to see that they were more willing to give up something that could have been theirs instead of being selfish,” Chris said.
For the kids, the decision was immediate. “I like the feeling of giving to other kids,” said John, age 12.
Matthew, 15, agrees. “When we were little, we didn’t have money for gifts,” he said. “One year someone gave us a bunch of gifts. I have my share of stuff—others don’t have that much. I don’t regret giving gifts to others.”
When Matthew turns 16, he plans to get a job and use a portion of his earnings to help needy children through a non-profit organization.
Although the Smiths didn’t even have enough money to give gifts to each other this past Christmas, they hope to participate in Angel Tree again in the future should finances allow.
Christmas carries many lessons—lessons of joy, hope, and peace. But the incarnation and, ultimately, death of Christ teach us an even greater lesson—sacrifice. As Christ, the baby from Bethlehem, sacrificed his life for us, the example of volunteers like the Smiths reminds us of our call to sacrifice to those around us. |
