Photo Credit: Chelsea Francis
As I sit to write this, Christmas is exactly 72 days away. Ok, scary thought. Because I haven’t really started on Christmas presents yet. . .honestly, I haven’t really even thought much about Christmas, especially as we are all so intensely focused on politics at the moment. I know, I know ~ let’s simply avoid that volatile subject for now and talk about something much more necessary and even FUN!
For the past several years, I can’t remember exactly how long ago we started, but I know it’s been years and years {so sad thinking how my oldest is 24!}. Anyways, while my children were growing up each year they would pack a Christmas shoebox for a boy or girl dependent on their age at the time for Operation Christmas Child.
Last year, I started the tradition with my sweet grandsons. The youngest little monkey was 4 and the step-grandson was 7 – perfect ages to begin sharing the idea that not every child wakes to an abundance of gifts on Christmas morning. This video helped both boys understand who they were creating special gift boxes for. For about a month we collected small items that would fit in a shoebox, with the 4 year old choosing toys and gifts for a 4 year old boy and the 7 year old doing the same for his age. It was fascinating to see what they picked as gifts they would want if they had no toys at all.
This year I invite you to join us in preparing gift boxes. It is a wonderful way to teach empathy while helping children around the world.
Just in case you’ve never heard of Operation Christmas Child please allow me to share its’ mission
Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse, demonstrates God’s love in a tangible way to needy children around the world, and together with the local church worldwide, shares the Good News of Jesus Christ. We collect and send simple shoebox gifts filled with toys, school supplies, and hygiene items to children affected by war, poverty, disaster, famine, and disease. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has delivered gift-filled shoeboxes to over 124 million children in more than 150 countries and territories.
Who is Samaritan’s Purse?
Samaritan’s Purse is a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world. Since 1970, Samaritan’s Purse has helped meet needs of people who are victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease, and famine with the purpose of sharing God’s love through His Son, Jesus Christ.
If you would prefer to make a donation in honor or memory of someone visit Samaritan’s Purse Gift Giving Catalog filled with specific gifts for individuals and families around the world. For example, with a $20 donation you can make it possible for a child to learn to read and write! And I know how important reading is to us book lovers, right?!?
My good friend Kirsten from Sweet Tea and Saving Grace is providing tips and resources to help create your shoeboxes. Also, Samaritan’s Purse has a Pinterest page with tons of ideas for preparing your shoebox. And, if like me, you are not a part of a church that collects the shoeboxes it is easy to find a local collection point with Shoebox Collection Point resource. Simply enter your zip code and voila, a collection point within a few miles of you will be shown.
I love this coloring page provided by Samaritan’s Purse to include in the box. It helped bring home the message of giving to my grandsons and allowed the child who received the box to ‘know’ the child giving on the other end. If you want to follow along with my grandsons and me as we prepare our shoeboxes, please do so on Facebook or Instagram.
coloringpagesThank you for allowing me to share this important work with you. Please do share any tips or ideas you have for creating a shoebox in the comments. I’d love to see how we all join together to bring hope and light to children around the world.
Many blessings Dear Hearts,
