Several years ago, when I was still relatively new to Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch, I was on our Minot Campus right before Christmas. Our on-site school was having a Christmas celebration before starting the holiday break.
A local hospital had “adopted” our school kids, both residential and day students, for Christmas. Like a Giving Tree, they asked us for a list of ages, genders, gift ideas, and first names. The group of nurses and EMTs, and other staff who were in charge of the project were all in. They shopped carefully. They gift-wrapped carefully. They wrote each child’s name on a gift. They brought candy and Christmas cookies. Our team made hot cocoa.
At the appointed time, one of the hospital’s ambulances drove up to the door of the school, and Santa and a cadre of elves emerged! They “Ho Hoed” and “Jingle Belled” as they started to unpack all the gifts waiting in the back of the transport. The children were dumbstruck. Although Santa in an ambulance was not how they thought it worked, it was really pretty awesome.
I stayed in the elementary part of the school while the gifts were handed out. Ranch kids are, at their cores, just kids. They were loud and excited and “accidentally” tearing away little pieces of wrapping paper before it was time.
All except one little girl. I remember her being about 11 years old. She was a child who was really hurting every day. She had a horribly disrupted childhood, plagued by unknown bio parents, homelessness, many foster parents, much abuse, and no stability. She was sitting on the floor, with her gift on her lap, crying her eyes out.
Carefully, Tina DeGree, who was then Principal but is now VP of Education and Compliance, quietly sat down on the floor beside her. She just sat and waited.
Slowly, the girl’s sobs started to ease. Tina said, “Can you tell me why you are crying?”
The little girl said, “It has my name on it. I’ve never gotten a gift with my name on it. It is really for me.” And through her tears, she beamed.
It didn’t matter at all what was in the box. I don’t even remember if she opened it. I wouldn’t be surprised if she didn’t, because the most important thing was there on the wrapping paper… her name. Irrefutable evidence that she was seen, she mattered, and that someone had thought of her at Christmas.
As we celebrate Christmas at the Ranch today, we will make very sure that every precious child knows they are seen, they matter, and that Christmas is for them, too.
Jesus came to this world for all of us. He loves us. He saves us. He sees us. As Luke tells us in 12:7, “Every hair on your head has been counted.”
And sometimes I think, Jesus sends Santa in an ambulance to make sure we know.
Merry Christmas! Please keep the children and staff of Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch in your prayers today and every day.
In His love,
Joy Ryan, President/CEO
Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch
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