During these holy days of Christmas, several memories come to mind. One that comes to mind was when I was teaching middle school. Every year before Christmas, we had a clothing drive. We invited students and families to donate “gently” worn clothes for the needy.  

The response was great. Clothes were coming in daily. One early morning as I was preparing for class, one of my students and her mother came to my classroom. The mother of my young student greeted me and said, “my daughter has a question.”  I wondered what kind of question this would be. She was doing well academically and her conduct was outstanding. The young girl, who was very shy, asked in a very low voice, “Mr. Ruiz, is it okay if we donate clothing that is new?”   I wasn’t sure I heard her correctly, so I asked her to repeat the question. She asked a second time, “Mr. Ruiz, may we donate clothing that is new?” I paused for a few moments, then responded, “Of course!”    

The mother stated that her daughter wanted to donate “new” clothing. She spent her own money and felt the needy deserved more than used clothing. When I looked into the girl’s bag, I saw several “new” gifts.

I was moved. This was an eye opener for me. The girl’s heart was in the right place. How easy it is to give what we do not need, but to give the best can be a challenge at times.

I think of our Savior who gave His all. I pray that we may give in the very same way.

Padre Mark Ruiz

(For Christmas 2025)