Saturday, December 7, 2013

It Is More Blessed to Give than Receive

On a Sunday in mid November and the following Monday my family and I were so blessed to participate in packing shoe boxes. This may sound a little strange to some of you but there is a program through Samaritan's Purse called “Operation Christmas Child” that takes shoe boxes packed with some items like candy, toothbrushes, washcloths, school supplies, toys, etc., and sends them across seas to children who don't even know what Christmas is!

My family and I drove an hour to participate in a church potluck (the church was called Brush Fire Ministries) where they were packing shoe boxes. This church was located in Bitterwater near King City. We, with a few other families in our fellowship, caravanned to this church for a “party packing” day. Their goal was 1000 shoe boxes (last year they did 800) and they did approximately 1200 shoe boxes this year! It was truly amazing to participate in this way of blessing others.

On Monday our family packed our own boxes too. As a family we did 6 boxes, 3 for boys, 3 for girls. I felt so wonderful knowing that I had helped bless children in other countries who, some of them didn't even know what love felt like. Some of these kids live in war-torn countries where their parents have possibly been killed in front of these children. The stories of what these kids face or faced is so amazing and touching. As a family we donated online and printed out labels for our boxes that enable us to get an email saying which country our boxes went to. This Christmas season “Christmas” has truly come alive for me. I've realized what Christmas is all about, giving and not receiving.

20 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. It is really cool. Maybe you could try it!
      Just curious, how did you find my blog???

      Delete
    2. On Andi's blog. Yeah I should
      Anna

      Delete
    3. Cool! Thanks for commenting! What state do you live in?

      Delete
    4. I live in Ripon, California, it is a very small town. We live just outside the city limits about a mile and a half. Thankfully in the country where we can have animals. We have goats, chickens,dogs, cows
      (but we don't have one right now) and sometimes cats. Where do you live?
      Annna

      Delete
    5. We live about an hour outside of Paso Robles, CA. Thanks for commenting!

      Delete
  2. that sounds like fun!!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It IS a lot of fun. Where do you live??? How did you find my blog???

      Delete
    2. off akansas wind blog we know Jesseca she is our friend!!!!!
      i don't know if i am allowed to tell where i live!:)

      Delete
    3. Oh! Cool!
      I so understand, I just meant what state?
      God bless!

      Delete
    4. KS but we are in the process of moving!!
      where do you live

      Delete
    5. In CA. Where are you moving to? (What state.)

      Delete
    6. well we aren't in KS any more we ( my family ) is in the lone star state of TX!!

      Delete
    7. Cool! I've always wanted to visit TX. Do you know anyone there? Do you like it??? God bless!

      Delete
  3. Wow, what an amazing opportunity to bless other and share the love of Christ with them!
    Every year my family and I go through the Gospel for Asia catalog (I'm not sure if you're familiar with it) and we pick out 3-5 gifts depending on the price. The gifts range from goats to water buffalo to chickens to sewing machines to mosquito nets. YOu are so right! It is more blessed to give then receive!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, the Gospel for Asia Christmas Catalog is another ministry that we support.

      Delete
  4. Operation Christmas Child is a wonderful ministry. Wow, you and your family were packing a lot to do 6 boxes!

    How is your sweet horse doing?

    ReplyDelete
  5. Dream is doing well. Thanks for asking. It was sooooo fun to do the boxes. We did three girls, three boys. The boys were aging from 5-9 and the girls we did one 10-14, one 5-9, and one 2-4.

    ReplyDelete
  6. That is so cool! I think we did that once, but I definitely want to do it again!

    My grandma keeps care baggies in her trunk to give to anyone who needs help or is homeless. They are just a gallon size ziplock bag with a washcloth, travel toothbrush and toothpaste, some granola bars or power bars, and other stuff. It's really cool seeing people's faces light up like they just got a great Christmas gift when she hands one to them. Then they spend time going through it and get excited about each new thing. It's amazing seeing God work like that. :-D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's funny because my grandma does that too sometimes! Unfortunately I've never been there when she gives them out. :(

      Delete

Thanks for reading and commenting on my blog! I really appreciate feedback—your thoughts are what keep me blogging! I always reply to comments, so be sure to check back!

Please be considerate of others and please keep all comments God-honoring. Your comment will be visible after I approve it. Thank you!

Blessings,
Bethany R.