(originally from the Saint Thomas More church newsletter, "More Informed" February 2017.)
“If you’ve got a heart, then Gumby’s a part of you”. If you recognize this lyric from the theme song, than you probably know who Gumby is. This lyric was especially true on December 5th at Saint Thomas More Catholic Church’s project 600 party. I, myself, happen to be a huge Gumby fan. I also happen to own a Gumby costume, from 7th grade Halloween. When me and my mom went out to buy it, it was $50, so she told me that I had to use it for something else after Halloween if she bought it. I said yes, so she bought it. When I heard about project 600, I knew that it would be the perfect opportunity to wear it. So, I pinned on a Santa hat and slapped on Sheriff’s badge, and I was ready. When the first group of children arrived, I started to high-five and sing christmas carols with them. Most of the kids loved me, but some were scared, and some were telling me they knew I was wearing a costume. I just smiled and told them that I came out of the T.V. and had to make myself look like I was wearing a costume, because there were adults there. Some even knew who Gumby was!
Of course, what would Gumby be doing in a church without his more religious cousins, Davey and Goliath? That’s what I thought too. So, I went to www.daveyandgoliath.org and printed out some Christmas-themed coloring pages, which some of the kids from Catholic schools seemed to recognize. What was really important was that I got to help less-fortunate children have a Christmas. When you go to the store, and buy that toy, and put it in that box, you are probably going to make some child smile when he opens it on Christmas morning. The toys that Santa Claus handed out were probably the only presents those kids were going to get. And, it makes me really happy that I was able to share my love for Gumby with these children. I told the kids who didn’t know who he was to ask their moms, so I could have even made a whole new generation of Gumby fans! One kid even made me a pipe cleaner bracelet! All in all, I had a good time helping God’s children have a Christmas.
“If you’ve got a heart, then Gumby’s a part of you”. If you recognize this lyric from the theme song, than you probably know who Gumby is. This lyric was especially true on December 5th at Saint Thomas More Catholic Church’s project 600 party. I, myself, happen to be a huge Gumby fan. I also happen to own a Gumby costume, from 7th grade Halloween. When me and my mom went out to buy it, it was $50, so she told me that I had to use it for something else after Halloween if she bought it. I said yes, so she bought it. When I heard about project 600, I knew that it would be the perfect opportunity to wear it. So, I pinned on a Santa hat and slapped on Sheriff’s badge, and I was ready. When the first group of children arrived, I started to high-five and sing christmas carols with them. Most of the kids loved me, but some were scared, and some were telling me they knew I was wearing a costume. I just smiled and told them that I came out of the T.V. and had to make myself look like I was wearing a costume, because there were adults there. Some even knew who Gumby was!
Of course, what would Gumby be doing in a church without his more religious cousins, Davey and Goliath? That’s what I thought too. So, I went to www.daveyandgoliath.org and printed out some Christmas-themed coloring pages, which some of the kids from Catholic schools seemed to recognize. What was really important was that I got to help less-fortunate children have a Christmas. When you go to the store, and buy that toy, and put it in that box, you are probably going to make some child smile when he opens it on Christmas morning. The toys that Santa Claus handed out were probably the only presents those kids were going to get. And, it makes me really happy that I was able to share my love for Gumby with these children. I told the kids who didn’t know who he was to ask their moms, so I could have even made a whole new generation of Gumby fans! One kid even made me a pipe cleaner bracelet! All in all, I had a good time helping God’s children have a Christmas.