For unto us a Child is born

Little fingers curl around the sheep, scooting them closer to the manger where baby Jesus lays. The Nativity beneath the tree in Tabitha's cottage fascinates the five-year-old. Two to three times a day, she can be found rearranging the figurines: the baby, the mom and dad, a donkey and sheep, and the shepherds. She is in awe of the story.

Christmas is only days away. The cottage is abuzz. Her cottage father vacuums the living room carpet. Noticing something different about the nativity scene, he switches the vacuum off and kneels down to see an addition—a new figure. It was Tabitha's small Barbie Chelsea doll propped beside the donkey, standing with the others in the crèche.

He looks up to see Tabitha standing there. He smiles, raising an eyebrow. "It's me," she says matter-of-factly. "I wanted to be a part of the story."

This Christmas, children in cottages and foster homes will hear the story of Jesus—some for the very first time. Thank you for all you do to help change lives.