Written by Karen Pearson, Ph.D., President, Kids Hope USA
A favorite hymn of advent is O come, O come, Emmanuel, with the beautiful chorus that rings out in high tones “Rejoice, Rejoice, Emmanuel, Shall come to thee, O Israel.” Emmanuel, God with us—or as Isaiah writes, a child born for us. Simply put, Jesus came to be with us and for us because he loves us.
Like Jesus, showing up for us because of a deep love and desire build a relationship with us, Kids Hope USA volunteer mentors show up for one hour each week to build a relationship with one of God’s children. Mentors, given fresh eyes by the Holy Spirit, see their student as a precious, valued, and loved child of God. Mentors show up each week because they care.
One mentor said, “I love being a mentor because it’s one way I can show God’s love to a child in my neighborhood who I otherwise would not have known. I love telling and showing a child that they are special and loved through the time we spend together.”
I invite you to pray with me that mentors and children and all of us in the Kids Hope USA family will know, deep in our hearts, minds and spirits, the love that is Jesus. Jesus, God’s son, born for us on Christmas morning.
Prayer: Jesus, thank you for coming to us, to be with us and for us because you love us. In this season of advent and Christmas, make yourself known to children everywhere through the love, encouragement and care of others. You came because you love us. May we show up to build relationships with children because we long to show that love to others. Amen