Today was our big shopping day for Operation Christmas Child.
My children emptied out their “giving” and each had close to $20. This year we are each doing two boxes so that was $10 for each box. My daughter is doing a box for an older boy and girl. My son is doing boxes for a boy his age and one younger. I am doing two girls.
We hit the Dollar Tree, of course. I was so much fun getting them simple things like toiletries, hair clips, toys.We were able to get lots of things for our money. The kids enjoy getting their own cart and being able to choose each item themselves. As soon as we got home my daughter wanted to fill her boxes.
Something new this year is we are using the Michael’s storage boxes. I picked 8 up earlier this month for $1.66 each. So I pulled those out and we started filling them up. We still have room in them so we are going to Target tomorrow to get some more things. Usually we can barely close the lid so I think these boxes are a little roomier and it gives the children a nice keepsake box to store their treasures.
We’ve been talking about Generosity with my children the last few days. I really want to develop that character trait in them. What better way than to have them particiate in this amazing project.
We’ve read stories about how much these boxes have impacted children around the world. I think it has filled their hearts and minds with anticipation wondering “who will get my box?”. On the Operation Christmas Child website you can pay for the shipping on line, then track what country your boxes end up so that’s cool. Also, we are including letters and a self-addressed stamped envelope for them to write back. In the past we’ve done a picture too, so I might try to get one in this year too.
If I don’t do anything of significance in this world, if I am remembered for nothing, I am grateful for the chance to impact these children year after year. I may never, ever get to see them face to face on earth or know what my boxes meant to them, but I know that I will see them in heaven.
I also had an opportunity to share with the cashier about Operation Christmas Child. I gave the pamphlet to him. I hope he follows through. Who knows, it may change his life.
Ligia
by Charles R.Swindoll. In one of his devotions he asks “What is your favorite feeling?” I immediately thought of my worst feeling. The worst feeling in the world is feeling like a failure. I get a knot in my stomach, my shoulders slump, and my eyes are downcast. I have had that feeling many times in my life. My whole life I spent trying to please my Dad and others. I didn’t want to disappoint anyone. I had to be the perfect daughter, the perfect friend, the perfect everything. I transferred that desire to please to God as well. However, since I am human and a sinner, I never felt like I could please God enough. He was, well, God. I felt I was constantly letting him down. I always felt like a failure. At one point, I even gave up. I thought, “I will never be good enough and never, ever do the right thing all the time”. Then something wonderful happened. I read a verse in the Bible, that said “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast” Ephesians 2:8-9. I had read this verse before, but that day it spoke to me loud and clear. There wasn’t ANYTHING I did or didn’t do that gave me God’s stamp of approval. I could not BE good enough. It was all done for me by Jesus at the cross.