Potter's House

          This entry is more about an experience I had last night (on a Sunday night) and I feel like it got me more in the mood for Christmas and giving this year.  It was at a Boys' and Girls' Club in Fayetteville, AR for the families and children that attend their after school program. It's called "The Potter's House". It is a ministry put on by a church from around that area. It was a 3 hour thing but it was so fun.
            I went with a group from my church and we signed up to be table servers. They had something like 50 something tables that needed to be served so we weren't the only servers. Other organizations and churches were there helping too. There was 15 from my church that went. We each got our own table to serve and we were pretty busy most of the night. I was hoping to get to know my family because I only had one family "set" at my table, couple and 2 young boys (preschool aged), but we didn't have time.
             I could tell one of the boys at my table was pushing limits because he didn't want to sit when he first got there and he didn't get a lot of attention from the parents like the older boy did. I noticed too that the younger boy colored away by himself while the other older boy was talking to their daddy and playing Bingo with him. I had to help the younger boy play it. It is nothing bad but you could really tell which one was the favorite or so it seemed.
            The people in charge of the dinner kept us pretty busy. First, we had to get stuff ready for them to play Bingo and take it out to our table. They played that for about 15 mins and then it was time to eat supper. First, we brought out the rolls and butter plus the sauces. Then we brought out the main course, which was chicken strips, mac and cheese, and potato salad. After that, they played Bingo for a few more mins. Lastly, we brought out the cupcakes and they got to decorate them by themselves.
            While the guests were decorating their cupcakes and listening to a program, we had to go into the gym and get talked to about how to pass out the gifts and that was a moment I will never for get. I think that moment made me smile the biggest. There were hundreds of present covering the gym floor and we all, and when I say we all, I mean every volunteer that was there had to get in a line to help pass out. We would take the presents to the tables and the families they belonged too. One of my tables was full with an Hispanic family. They had little children and they were so cute. Then I got to passed out to another table and there were't very many people at that table.
             It kind of disappointed me because they didn't open them there, most of them took them home with them, which I can understand. They might have wanted to put them under the Christmas tree and wait until Christmas morning to open them, which is more enjoyable. It was a really big thing in a really big place but it was so neat and fun.
             It reminded me a lot of what Christmas is really about. It is more about giving then anything else. It is about having a servant's heart like Jesus did when He came down to this Earth for us. The earth of sin and shame and very dirty. He left His right handed spot by God and came down to save us. I think I will make it a tradition for me now and my future family to do something that has to do with serving people around Christmas time in Dec. It is just a good reminder of what God did for us.