Beautiful Feet

For the past 7 or more years our family has been part of the Christmas ministry at the Beautiful Feet Mission in Ft. Worth. Many years ago our church would have the various Sunday School classes adopt families and buy gifts and then deliver to the families in the inner-city of Ft. Worth. Because our church now has Mission Colleyville (outreach to local families), this project has stayed alive in our church because of our friend Greg Montgomery. Anyway, we have been buying gifts and taking part in this ministry and it is such a blessing and an eye-opener. When we first started, the girls were very young and I didn't think it safe to take them. But they have been going for at least the last 5 years and even this year, asked without prompting, when are we doing Beautiful Feet.

I wanted to share about one family we delivered to last night. It was a 74 year old great-grandmother and lots of people living in her house. We took gifts that different people had bought for the 6 kids ranging in age from 2 up to 12. We are driving around in this dark, run-down neighborhood trying to find the house number. You know you are out of your comfort zone when you see a house with a giant black Santa face on the front door. There are groups of black men/boys hanging around in front yards and Katie says "I hope we don't get beat up". We try to reassure the girls that God will protect us while we are doing work for Him. Don and I weren't so much fearful but just uncomfortable. It is a whole other world that we don't even think about existing.

So when we find the house, the grandmother and a little girl are on the front porch waiting for us. The little girl runs out to the truck so excited. The four of us unload 8 large garbage bags full of presents and a box of food. The girl tells me her name is "Sweet Pea" and she is 10 years old and in 4th grade (the same as Katie). How surreal to see Katie standing next to this girl in this run-down house! What 2 different lives they live but both loved equally by God. Then one by one kids just start coming out of the back bedroom. The grandmother has a switch (yes, a small tree branch) in her hands and tells them to get away, the presents are for Christmas! Don then tells her that he wants to make sure she knows about the true Christmas gift of Jesus. She says, "oh yes, honey, that's how I've survived for 74 years". I asked "Sweet Pea" if she knew Jesus and she shakes her head yes and smiles so big.

As we left, the girl runs out in the yard as her cousins (2 big black guys) are walking up to the dark house. She starts yelling "we got a turkey!". How many of our kids would be more excited over a turkey than bags of presents?

We had some really good discussions in the car as we drove to the next family. This always helps our family keep focused on how blessed we are. If you are ever looking for a ministry to be a part of check out the Beautiful Feet website. Also if you are wondering why the name of "Beautiful Feet", it comes from Isaiah 52:7 (and quoted in Romans 10:15) "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"

May your family know the true spirit of Christmas and realize how blessed you are!