Robert wasn’t falling for it. The other campers had told him
everyone got a present at every camp’s Birthday Party—but 10-year-old
Robert had been cruelly disappointed before. He knew better than to trust
someone’s word... especially in this new environment of camp.
"I’m not gettin’ a present," he declared, again and again.
He mumbled to himself again during the actual party, as one of the staff
handed out the presents—Birthday Boxes, calling out the camper’s names
in order of age. Suddenly, Robert’s name was called. But he didn’t move!
His sense of trust had been so shattered in his abusive past that he
still didn’t believe he was getting a present…
Ginger, the Camp Grandmas, gently prodded him to move. "Robert,
that’s you," she said. "Go get your present." He got
out of his chair, and timidly walked forward to receive his Birthday Box.
Then he returned to his chair with his gift—and just stared at it.
"Go ahead," Ginger said. "Open it." "No, I don’t
want to," Robert replied. Ginger tried again. "Go ahead, it’s
yours to open." But Robert was still hesitant, still disbelieving.
"Do I get to keep it? Do I get to take it home with me?"
When Ginger assured him that it was his to keep, Robert decided to open it
in the safety of his cabin—and hid it under his pillow. These birthday boxes,
filled with goodies say “We care about you” to broken-hearted children like Robert.
One
fun, safe week at camp DOES make a difference in the life of a
child!
