Page 4 - VABC Newsletter

PAGE 4 VABC NEWSLETTER

Youth Corner

Middle/HS Sunday School Teacher - Cynthia Wheeler
Remember Joy
Joy In Serving
December is a wonderful month that is full of
By Allan J. Holtz, Rosa Parks Middle School, 8 Grade
th
celebration. We’ve just come out of
Thanksgiving, and immediately we put up The Ronald McDonald House was an amazing

Christmas decorations and make final New
experience. Diego, Isaiah, Rashad, and I first went to
Year’s Eve plans. It’s a time when we can
work cleaning the dining room. We wiped off the
celebrate the birth of our savior and the end tables, dusted cabinets, mopped floors, and organized
of another year of life, as well as enjoy time
the play room. Finally, we cleaned the kitchen – we
with our families, some of whom we may not cleaned out the microwave, dishwasher, and the
have seen for months. Everything –
tabletops. The manager was very nice and tried to help
decorations, friends, children, commercials,
us as much as he could.
etc. – remind us constantly that this is a time
to be happy. Unfortunately, not everyone
Our Thanksgiving Food Drive was a complete success.
feels the joy of this season. For many, the
Lots of volunteers showed up to work with us. Overall,
appeal of Christmastime has worn off as the it made me feel joyful that I could help people that
years have taken away some of those things
could not help themselves. I think more people should
we held dear as children. What was a time
help out in the community. There were very fulfilling
of abundance for us as children has turned opportunities and I hope to help again at the next
into a time where our pockets are stripped
Young People’s Missionary outing.
bare trying to purchase gifts for all of the
friends and family members that you can’t
leave off your list. Time away from school
turns into hours spent fighting crowds at the
mall on the weekend and not enough
vacation time or sick leave to recover during
the week. Even the excitement of family
knocking on your door on Christmas day is
taken away as our family members are
slowly called away from us to be at rest.

It’s no doubt that December as an adult is
different than when we were children, but I
urge you all to still remember your joy.
Remember the goodness and the mercy that
God has shown us throughout the year.
Remember the love and compassion that
you have been shown or that you showed to
family, neighbors, and coworkers.
Remember that, despite the lack of gifts
under your tree, we are celebrating the
ultimate gift that God gave us on that
blessed night years ago – love, mercy, and
hope in the form of His son, Jesus. Have a
blessed holiday season, Vermont!