Against The Grain

We have had an incredible week.  This is the second year that we have opened up a Christmas Store on Natchez where the children can come and pick out presents for their mothers.  So far we have had 175 kids plus 28 kids that we were able to serve at the Rutherford County Alternative Learning Center.  What a blessing it is to see these young men and women labor over which gift their mother would want more.  To see a 17 year old young man who appears to be angry and hard say "I want to use that pretty paper with the gold on it…my mom will love that", just tears me up.  Several times today I have gotten a little teary thinking that these kids would have gotten up Christmas morning frustrated and ashamed because they were unable to experience the joy of giving a gift to their mother.  We have received several thank you's and hugs this week, but we are the ones who have been blessed.  Thanks especially to Rachel. who organized this years shop…this would not have been such an incredible success without your dedicated leadership.