Jesse Tree

We started a tradition called a "Jesse Tree" about 3 years ago. My mom told us about it. Then I found A Holy Experience. This website is very inspiring! The woman that writes is very eloquent. The kids don't understand everything she says, but they "feel" it. They have been moved to tears and they are actually learning all the stories that lead up to Jesus' birth. Every night we read a new story and hang an ornament to go with that story on our Jesse Tree. My favorite part is that this process helps us anticipate the birth of our Savior, like Zaccheus sitting in the tree straining to be the first to see Him. That is what we are doing...waiting...and asking Jesus what he wants for his birthday this year.

A few days ago we got a chance to put our learning into action. We went outside and discovered "min kerim" written on our wall. At first we were offended and a little upset. We didn't know who wrote "I am a donkey" on our wall. We didn't know if it was directed at us or what. Annie later found out it was one of her girl friends. We were talking about it at dinner that night and discussing how we should handle it. When we read our Jesse Tree devotional for the night, we read about how Joseph (or Jofus as Jesse said)...we were moved by his forgiveness. The question at the end asked who we could forgive. The kids unanimously decided to forgive our friend who wrote on our wall. Then we thanked God for turning what was intended for evil into good.

We decided we at least needed to find out why Reggie would write that on our wall. So I asked her to help me wash it off and while we were washing it off, I asked her why. I told her I wasn't mad and that we forgave her. But we wanted to know why. After a little prying, she burst into tears. She was heaving big sobs which is so embarrassing for her in front of the other neighbors, so I managed to run her into the house. We sat down and the whole story came tumbling out about how she had gotten beaten by her dad because of a little neighborhood drama involving her baby brother getting dirt thrown on him. I am certain that her father called her a donkey and many other names as he beat her with a piece of hose. She said she came out after that and wrote on our wall. I still don't know what motivated her to write on our wall, but I believe it was a combination of shame and anger and that feeling of unfairness when she stared up at our wall and knew the peace and love that flows in our home. (not that we don't have our share of anger in our home, but we repent, we forgive...we are redeemed and we are different) she felt like a donkey. she probably even wished we were donkeys. It just isn't fair! It's HOPELESS! As she sat in my kitchen, I held her little face and told her she is NOT a donkey. She is a PRINCESS! I made her repeat it to me. She stumbled over it, but she said it. Her mom came in and repeated to me how stupid her daughter her, how she is "incomplete" in the head and poor in her understanding of anything. I tried to reason with her mom, but part of the culture here is SHAME. She was taught just like Reggie to bury her feelings. Tim was out with us at this point and trying to explain to her mom how important it is to pursue her daughter's heart. That we don't care about our wall, we only care that she thinks she is a donkey. We tried to tell her mom that her daughter is a princess. We got a blank stare. Anger was flashing in her mom's eyes. I don't know if it was anger at us or her daughter. But behind the anger I thought I saw desperation. Desperate to really believe that her daughter is a princess, because if that is true, than she too is beautiful and loved and sought after. We planted our truth in their hearts. I don't know how it will turn out. I do know that Jesus would love Reggie's heart for Christmas...so what the Enemy was hoping to twist and contort for evil...we were able to plant a seed of pure gold in her heart and we can only HOPE in Him to make it grow. I hope Jesus gets Reggie for Christmas this year!