Present

"When you write From, write Jesus. These presents are from Jesus, through you."
Our youth listened attentively as Sr. Angelica finished giving directions on how we were to wrap almost 200 coats for the kids from around the neighborhood. These brand-new coats were donated to the sisters and our job was to sort, wrap, and gift tag them.

"Sơ Vân, I don't know if this is a small girls or medium girls... I don't have any kids!" one of the adult chaperones remarked. I laughed silently. Neither do I.
30 minutes later, our crew of twenty was spread into three rooms, noisily chatting, and playfully giving commands.

The youth had arrived silent and askance.
For many of them, it was their first service project away from the church.
For others, it was the broken cars and grayed laundry that lined the streets that led up to the Missionary of Charity convent on Harwood Avenue.

"I've never wrapped presents before!" Rachel exclaimed as she fought with the pretty Hello Kitty jacket and wrapping paper in her hands.
"These presents are from Jesus." Johnny said satisfactorily as the pile of presents grew.
"They're like a family," one of the parents remarked as he saw the youth teasing each other.

"Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me." (Matthew 25:20)
The new year of 2011 is a few minutes away.
You always have the choice to have Jesus near you.