The Best Christmas Gift

I got a call from Avery's principal this afternoon.

She is the principal of the wonderful school that teaches children to hide God's Word in their heart, teaches kindness, compassion, giving and does an excellent job teaching academics as well.

This is the school that I cried big tears over when I had to write the principal and Avery's teacher to let them know that we would have to withdraw Avery in November because we can't afford the tuition (and it is not unreasonable- in fact it is about $10/day, all day). This is the school that Avery begged to go back to everyday for weeks, her little four year old mind not able to understand why the money in the jar in daddy's closet couldn't pay for it.

The principal was calling to let us know that there was an anonymous donor from our community that would like to pay Avery's tuition for the rest of the year. I was without words, but plenty in tears. See this is a big deal for me, not just because it is a wonderful school and I am a really tired, pregnant lady with three very needy children at my feet constantly, but because I was humbled, or maybe even humiliated.

I have never been an advocate of hand-outs, I come from generations of really hard workers, really ambitious and successful entrepreneurs. I have been so blind. I have failed to see that really, there are only hand-outs... there is not one thing that we can earn, short of God's abundant provision and gifts.

And so, my husband will continue to work hard every week to glorify the Lord, I will work hard at home to glorify the Lord, and we will receive His hand-outs. Whether it be the simple meal that we enjoy together as a family, the health and laughter that He has lavished on our family, the adorable hand-me-down clothes that adorn our children, or the tuition that is provided through an anonymous donor who wants to glorify the Lord.

And I am ever so mindful, that even though there are only a few small gifts for our children under the tree, and there may not be gifts for me and hubby, God's provision was and is plentiful. He gave us a gift unlike anything you could find online, on O's Favorite Thing List or at the finest of boutiques, He gave us His Son. "Greater love and provision has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13 italics mine.

I have been reading consistently in the blogosphere the stress of money, the worry over wrapping, the stress of whether or not Santa will make it to America or will he have to be bailed out, too? My prayer is that you receive God's great provision of Jesus this season.