Giving This Season...

Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver…2 Corinthians 9:7.

I was blessed to join the members of our congregation in giving to Samaritan’s Purse this year!

What did that mean for those who participated?

It meant that you could shop for a little boy or girl…or both?

You picked the age range of the child that you wanted to shop for!

And then you shopped for items that would fill a shoebox!

Our church made it so easy for us! 

They give us simple instructions to follow…gift ideas of what you could purchase to place in your shoebox…labels to print and place on top of your shoe box…and how to pay for shipping…either by check or online!

And then we could return our filled shoeboxes to church and they would handle the rest!

We were encouraged to choose one toy and then add additional items to fill the shoebox!

I chose to shop for a little boy with his age ranging from 2 to 4 years old!

I then chose a Melissa and Doug block train as the main toy for this little boy, featuring Mickey Mouse characters on the train!

I then added a book, coloring books, crayons, stickers, a matchbox car, a stuffed teddy bear, washrags, toothbrushes, stocking cap and gloves and a shirt! 

I had so much fun selecting each item…hoping that the little boy who received the gifts would love them!

I was blessed when I took my shoebox to church on Sunday morning to see numerous shoeboxes filling the tables.

I believe our church collected 289 shoeboxes to mail and deliver!

Fortunately, other churches are choosing to give during this season as well!

My oldest son shared that he was going to his church last night to fill boxes for Imagine with food and other essential items to send to families who would be blessed by these gifts this year.

In 1-½ hours, members of his congregation filled over 600 boxes and are planning to fill an additional 600 boxes the following evening!

I know my son was blessed to serve and give his time, but I think he was more blessed by the helper by his side…his oldest son, Graham!

Graham served alongside his daddy, filling the boxes with cans of chili!

At the tender age of four years old, Graham is learning that there are families who are need of help!

He is learning that some families would not have a Thanksgiving meal or other essential items without the help of others!

He is learning that there are children in our world who wake up hungry some mornings.

And he is learning how important it is for each of us to help others who are less fortunate!

And though he might not quite understand it all, he is learning what it means to give!

He is learning what it means to give of our time…of our resources…our love to others!

God’s word tells us… Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver…2 Corinthians 9:7.

I’m sure there are many churches…families’…individuals…who are choosing a variety of methods of giving this year!

And as God’s word tells us…we decide in our hearts how and what we should give!

Maybe you don’t have a lot of extra resources to share, but you can share your time and talents.

Sometimes the greatest gifts are meeting a need a family’s life.

For example…

Fixing a leaky faucet…

Making a car repair…

Making sure the furnace is working properly…

Patching or repairing a roof…

Knitting a warm blanket…

Gifts that provide a family exactly what they need this season is such a blessing to them!

Or maybe your schedule is extremely full and busy, but you have an abundance of resources and can share in this way

In whatever way you choose to give this year… give with a cheerful heart…for God loves a cheerful giver!

And as we enter and walk through the season of Thanksgiving and Christmas…be open to how God can use you! 

I am praying and asking God to keep my eyes open and use me throughout this holiday season!

Dear Heavenly Father…we know there are many families and children who have great needs this season!  As your church…as members of your family…I pray that each of us would be open to giving and meeting those needs!  Help us to give of our time and resources and bless others…just as you have blessed us!