A Christmas reminder....

As hard as it is to believe, Christmas was nearly a month ago. When I look back on it this year, there is one thing that comes to mind first, or one person I should say. I hope that I always remember the following around Christmas time.

First, I must tell you about one of my kids, we'll call him JP. A year ago he was hardly attending school. He was also getting into trouble in the community, stealing, getting into fights, and so on. Some of this becomes understandable when you know his background. I won't post the things he has shared with me, but the kid has witnessed a lot of violence in his young life. A little over a year ago Tides opened his case. He has responded as well as any kid could to the kind of support we offer. He now attends school nearly everyday, almost always on time, and is currently being moved out of the behavioral classroom due to the turn around in his behavior. He is usually the first kid to sign up for a rec activity with us, and rides along with us when we go tracking almost everyday. He is one of the most lovable kids I work with.

The other thing you should understand is what Christmas is like for most of the families Tides works with. 90% of our families are at or below poverty line, meaning they make less than $20,000 a year. If you've ever had a class, or at work, put together a "Christmas basket," or donated to food and toy drives at Christmas... many of the families I work with are recipients of these items. So Christmas for them does not necessarily bring the joy and thanksgiving it does for families who have money to travel to see each other, to buy food for a big feast, and to provide gifts for each other, namely their children. For our families, it can be a reminder of what they don't have, of what they are unable to do, of what they can't give their children. It is a time of depression, frustration, and sadness. JP's family is not as bad off as some other's that I work with, but they sure don't have a lot. And yet in the midst of it all JP managed to remind us what Christmas is about.

Luckily for JP and his brothers, his mother manages to save a bit of money through the year so that they can have a Christmas present or two under the tree. This year however, JP asked her if she would give him any money that she was going to spend on him so that he could buy presents for other people. And if that wasn't enough, who did he buy presents for? His mother and his 3 Tides caseworkers. He even managed to nonchalantly ask us in the weeks preceeding Christmas when our birthdays were. Why? Because the earrings I received from him are tiny gold hearts with a glass amythest (my birthstone) in the middle.

This kid, who has been through so much, who has come so far, who has every reason in the world to want a Christmas present, has taught me more than I can say. And this year, he reminded me what Christmas is all about.