Joy, the gift of Giving

The holiday season is quickly approaching.  This has to be one of my favorite times of the year.  The music, smells and decorations make it all exciting.  People hurrying and scurrying in the stores to find just what they need to gather friends and family under one roof in joyous celebration.  Ah! I LOVE it!

I can hardly wait to put up the tinsel and lights.  To wrap gifts and sip hot cocoa with little melting marshmallows. My favorite part is not receiving but giving gifts.  More than anything, I want to give my boys the gift of giving - joy.  Sharing opportunities with them and giving them the chance to, well, give.



So today we, as a family, went shopping.  Now our oldest son, who is 5, enjoys buying spending money.  He is more likely to buy something just to have it than he is because he actually wants to play with it.  As we ate lunch we explained to our boys - 5, 2 &1 - that we were going shopping in order to share Christmas with children around the world.  We asked them what things they thought other boys and girls would like.  And we allowed them to pick out items to send.  We, as a family and faith family, are packing shoe boxes to send to Operation Christmas Child.  A program sponsored by Samaritan's Purse.  We came home and filled the clear plastic shoe boxes with all sorts of goodies for 3 precious children somewhere in the world.  The boys put Christmas stickers on the outside of the boxes.  And in the midst of it all, our 5 year old says, "Mom, I love happy endings at Christmas."

It never occurred to me how giving would impact our oldest son.  To see the joy that filled his face, knowing that he would not be keeping the items he had chosen but instead sending them to another little boy or girl to enjoy.  Priceless.  Tomorrow we are going to make a card for each of our boxes.  Sending part of us with them as they travel.  Praying that some child, somewhere is impacted by a stranger from half way around the world.

As I sang my middle son to sleep tonight, these words took on a whole new picture for me.

Jesus loves the little children,
All the children of the world.
Red and yellow, black and white,
All are precious in his sight,
Jesus loves the little children of the world.

This holiday season, won't you give to a child in need?  If you need some ideas, here are some great ones:

• Samaritan's Purse - give to Operation Christmas Child to help send these shoe boxes around the world!


• Compassion International - sponsorship is wonderful, I know from experience! You can also check out their gift catalog link in the top right hand side of their site.


• World Vision - another opportunity to sponsor a child in need.  Or just give a gift this season.


• Toys for Tots - donate monetarily or just give a toy


• Salvation Army Angel Tree - donate monetarily

You may already participate in some manner.  Thank you! However, if you've never experienced the joy of giving, I encourage you to do so this holiday season.

 

TV Free Fridays

Our house is daily chaos. With three boys under the age of 5, chaos is often an understatement.  So last Saturday we turned our weekly grocery outing from a family adventure to mom and son time.  So Drew and I headed to the nearest Wal-mart.  I always enjoy one on one time with him.  He's quickly getting to the age where he's asking questions about everything.  As we're heading down the road, he begins to ask about George.  George is our sponsored child.  Several years ago, we had the opportunity to partner with Compassion International in ministering to George and his family.  Lately Drew has been very insistent about wanting to visit George.  Looking at a map, Drew often wants me to point out where George lives.  He's been very inquisitive of our sponsored child's lifestyle and surroundings.  As our conversation progressed, Drew began to ask about George's house.  I could hear the concern in his voice as I explained that George's family more than likely didn't have the things that Drew was used to having.  Drew said, " Momma, if George doesn't have a television, how would he play video games?"  I desperately wanted to just hold my innocent, consumerism-driven son and cry.  Cry because my son has plenty.  Cry because my sponsored son lives in need.  Cry because I have rarely known need and often mistake my want for need.  As best I could, I lovingly explained to my sweet Drew that George doesn't play video games but instead enjoys playing football with his friends.

 


I continued to relive this conversation for the next several hours.  My heart heavy with grief knowing that though my financial contributions were providing for a child in need, my own child was overwhelmed by consumerism and having no understanding of need versus want.  I shared our conversation with my husband when I got home.  We talked with Drew and tried to help him understand.  But talk is cheap to a four year old.  So, in order to help our family better understand at least one thing our sponsored child lives without, we've decided as a family to have television free Fridays.  Though it is a luxury, we've come to expect to be entertained by it.  Hopefully this will help Drew understand that our wants are not necessary when it comes to others needs.

If you currently do not sponsor a child in need, I highly encourage it.  There are many organizations through which you can sponsor children.  After doing our homework, we sponsor through and recommend Compassion International.  May God be glorified as needy children are released from poverty, and as my "wealthy" children are released from ignorance, in Jesus' name!