On February 2nd, over thirty families attended the Candle Wishes birthday party. The children, who wouldn’t otherwise receive gifts for their birthdays, are able to come to the party and open a gift bag to find the toys they’ve been wishing for and the clothes that they need. It is a special feeling to know other people are celebrating your life and recognizing the significance of your special day.

This month, over half of the kids were turning 1 or 2 on their birthdays, which has never happened before. I love babies and really had fun photographing their chubby, smiling faces.

North Boulevard Church of Christ sponsored the party and hosted it at the life center at their church. This church group always works so hard to ensure the children experience a memorable birthday party and are driven by their compassion and love for people in need. Dressed as clowns, they manned the carnival games, and the kids had a blast.

Games, food, and gifts are all important aspects of the parties, but I also really enjoy getting to know the families and hearing their stories. One family I met is originally from Iraq. The mother has lived in the U.S. for 8 years, while her husband has been here for 14 years. Another mother of a birthday child is still a child herself at 16 years old. I can only imagine the emotional trauma she has experienced as such a young mother, but you could see on her face how much she loves her little boy.

It is so amazing to see a room filled with people of such different cultural backgrounds, religious beliefs, and life circumstances, yet, we all share this common desire to celebrate the birthdays of our loved ones. I am so thankful that the Lord has led me to serve through this ministry, and I pray that He will use Candle Wishes to reach people to accept Christ as Savior and Lord.

Thanks for Reading,
-Jenny W.

Back in 2003, I founded the Candle Wishes Foundation, a ministry and outreach tool that provides birthday gifts and memorable birthday experiences to needy children in Rutherford County, TN. In 2008, individuals and groups in the community will sponsor 600 children and provide their birthdays gifts, which the children will receive at one of the big monthly birthday parties. Again and again, God demonstrates his faithfulness and love for the needy through Candle Wishes.

An inspiring little girl and mother helped me kick off 2008 motivated and enthused about what lies ahead. A mother dropped off a package of toys for the children in Candle Wishes along with a letter and gift for me as well. In her letter, she told me how thankful she was for what Candle Wishes did for her family years ago and how they continue to keep us in their prayers. This is not the first time we have received gifts from this family. Not just ordinary gift donors, this mother-daughter duo give the toys with a “pay it forward” attitude.

REWIND to Christmas 2005, after Hurricane Katrina hit the gulf coast.

While signing up families for the upcoming year of Candle Wishes, I met this mother and daughter who had endured the tragedy of Katrina and subsequently lost everything. In Tennessee to stay with extended family, the mother was at Salvation Army to sign up for Angel Tree, a program that provides Christmas gifts to needy children. We signed up the little girl for her birthday as well, which happened to be in December. They attended the Candle Wishes monthly birthday party where the girl opened her gifts to find a Polly Pocket toy, which happen to be (unbeknownst to us) her favorite toy back home. Her birthday fell on the same day of the city Christmas parade, so she decided to ride in the Candle Wishes truck and wave to parade spectators with us. That day, I handed her a pink Bible and a cupcake as we sang Happy Birthday, not expecting her to give me something in return. Attached to an angel candle holder was a letter telling me I had been her angel that Christmas. Talk about heart breaking!

One year later, this mom and daughter came to my house to bring a small box of toys for the children in Candle Wishes. The mom explained that once they got back on their feet, her daughter wanted to buy some gifts for Candle Wishes and give them to children in need just like she was one year before. Sometimes it is easy to accept a needed gift or kind word and move on in life, but this young girl was determined to “pay it forward” and impact the lives of those around her. Even another year later, she still remembered the children in Candle Wishes and has made the toy donation a family tradition. I can just imagine what would happen if we all learned from this little girl and followed Christ’s lead in being sensitive to the needs of others and taking action to make a difference.

-Jenny W.