No cookies no candy-- just this note. It was one of the best teaching moments I've had with my children this year. Here's the letter we left on our neighbor's doorsteps. Merry Christmas to all our friends-- even those we don't get to see much.
December 2008
On Christmas Eve each year, Rich and I talk with our children about the Saviors’ birth and the many miracles he performed on earth. This year, we will focus on God’s love and the power of prayer as our family experienced our own little miracle this month.
On Christmas Eve each year, Rich and I talk with our children about the Saviors’ birth and the many miracles he performed on earth. This year, we will focus on God’s love and the power of prayer as our family experienced our own little miracle this month.
On December 16, 2008 Anja fell against the glass on our fireplace. It instantly burned her little hand. In less than a minute it was covered in blisters and started swelling. It was a long and horrible day as I held my baby screaming in pain with first and second degree burns and wanting nothing more than to take it all away. Then it happened, the teaching moment came.
Despite her current pain, she would heal. The scars on her hand would fade until they were nothing more than a memory of a childhood accident. But, most important, she was coming home from the doctor’s office and we needed to be grateful for this blessing, not focused on the injury.
There are many parents who can’t take their burned children home. There are mothers who hold their children in pain day after day without seeing relief. There are children who are reminded every time they look into a mirror of their accident.
This is why there is no plate of cookies or box of candies on your doorstep from our family. Instead, we took the money we were planning to use for neighbor gifts and donated it to Camp Nah-Nah-Mah (camp friendship) that is held every year at Camp Tracy for young burn survivors. The camp offers 6 to 12 year olds the chance to interact with other victims, find strength in numbers and feel normal in a crowd.
The donation was made on behalf of the Oquirrh Highland Estates neighborhood. We hope this donation will help a child feel joy in being just a kid at camp this summer, not another patient at the University of Utah burn unit. It’s a small gift that we hope will make an impact on a stranger we’ll never meet.
We have been so touched this year by the many talks we’ve heard while sitting in our church congregation. The message we hear over and over is to simplify and enjoy this season. Don’t dwell on what you don’t have but celebrate what you do have. We are celebrating our own miracle and are grateful our little one is home with us.
We are so grateful for you—our neighbors and friends who help us see the light at the end of the tunnel, the power in prayer and the joy in a bag of chocolates when it’s been a really bad day.
Thank you for your love and support. Life really is a journey that is more enjoyable when traveled with friends. Merry Christmas and may you see the little miracles happening around you every day.
Love, the Coombs Family
Despite her current pain, she would heal. The scars on her hand would fade until they were nothing more than a memory of a childhood accident. But, most important, she was coming home from the doctor’s office and we needed to be grateful for this blessing, not focused on the injury.
There are many parents who can’t take their burned children home. There are mothers who hold their children in pain day after day without seeing relief. There are children who are reminded every time they look into a mirror of their accident.
This is why there is no plate of cookies or box of candies on your doorstep from our family. Instead, we took the money we were planning to use for neighbor gifts and donated it to Camp Nah-Nah-Mah (camp friendship) that is held every year at Camp Tracy for young burn survivors. The camp offers 6 to 12 year olds the chance to interact with other victims, find strength in numbers and feel normal in a crowd.
The donation was made on behalf of the Oquirrh Highland Estates neighborhood. We hope this donation will help a child feel joy in being just a kid at camp this summer, not another patient at the University of Utah burn unit. It’s a small gift that we hope will make an impact on a stranger we’ll never meet.
We have been so touched this year by the many talks we’ve heard while sitting in our church congregation. The message we hear over and over is to simplify and enjoy this season. Don’t dwell on what you don’t have but celebrate what you do have. We are celebrating our own miracle and are grateful our little one is home with us.
We are so grateful for you—our neighbors and friends who help us see the light at the end of the tunnel, the power in prayer and the joy in a bag of chocolates when it’s been a really bad day.
Thank you for your love and support. Life really is a journey that is more enjoyable when traveled with friends. Merry Christmas and may you see the little miracles happening around you every day.
Love, the Coombs Family
3 comments:
That gift is far better and more from the heart than any brownies could be. Thanks for being our friends and thank you for being the great examples that you are. We love you all!
I think it's what Christmas is all about. I loved it! Great story for church. You should submit it to "The Friend"
That is awesome of you guys. My brother attended that camp and it is really something special for those kids.
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