Operation Christmas Child

"But it doesn't fit."

"Can we use a bigger box?"

"Can we send two boxes to one child?"

"What if the batteries wear out?"

"What will he do if the pencil breaks?"

These were a few of the questions I had to tackle at our recent outing to Target.  

Our church is collecting shoe boxes (through Operation Christmas Child) for children living in poverty around the world.  All three of my children jumped with delight at the opportunity to create a special little box for a child across the globe.

Decision #1: Girl or Boy?

Quickly enough, my girls chose to make a box for a girl, and my boy decided to create a box for a boy.  What a surprise (wink, wink).

Decision #2: What Age?

In years past, my children have tended to choose the age similar to their current age.  Surprisingly, this year, all three elected for the youngest age, 2-4 year old.

I wonder why they all chose the youngest age.  Perhaps because many of their cousins are younger?  Possibly because all my children volunteer at church with young children?  Or maybe because their favorite Christmas memories are found during their most early years of life.  Whatever the possibility, we were now on an adventure through Target to fill three boxes for three young children.

Decision #3: What to put into the box?

Perhaps the hardest part, indeed, was limiting my children to the tiny little boxes.  

"A shoe box never looked so small," my twelve-year-old daughter commented.

My girls (12 & 14) got busy finding tiny dolls, blankets, crayons & hair clips for their little girls.

My son (10), however, was stumped. He quickly had the realization that most the items he would personally enjoy, or that a young boy would want, were too big to fit in a shoe box.  He racked his brain with ideas until he surrendered and instead found me with his empty box.

"I just don't know, Mom.  None of the toys that I think he might like fit into the box.  Do you have any ideas?"
"What have you tried?" I questioned.
"A light saber, legos, a soccer ball, dump truck, stuff like that."
"Ok, those are good ideas.  Now I want you to think.  If you were a three-year-old boy living in a place where you had few toys, very little food and not much shelter and this was your only Christmas present, what would you hope to find in this box?"

Micah's eyes looked away in thought.  I could see him putting himself into the shoes of another person and asking himself that question.  After a few short seconds he turned back toward me and responded, "A teddy bear."

"Good idea."

We maneuvered around children throwing fits in the isles until we reached the plush animal section.  Micah locked eyes on a soft teddy bear who fit perfectly inside his box.  With lovingkindness, my tough, strong boy gently kissed the bear on its head and laid it in his shoe box.  Micah sent away more than just a shoe box.  His sent his love to an unknown child he would probably never meet.  It was like he experienced the "Grinch" phenomenon of having his heart grow in size.

Isaiah 54:2 reads, "Enlarge the place of your tent; stretch out the curtains of your dwellings, spare not; lengthen your cords."  When I read a verse like that, I have to question if it is mearly literal, or perhaps is illustrating a deeper meaning.  I believe that Micah had his tent (heart) expanded that day in Target and I pray we continue to give God permission to stretch our hearts to hold more love.  I pray we never settle with feeling "full," but instead use our feeling of satisfaction as a clue that it is time to stretch (though not always comfortable).

My family left Target that afternoon with excitement to watch our boxes travel to a child in need.  With great expectation we wait for an e-mail to tell us where our boxes arrived.  In the meantime, we will pray for the thousands of boxes being delivered and pray for salvation to come to villagers who have not yet encountered a Living God who loves each and every one of us so very much and gives us peace and hope even in the most dire of circumstances. 

I can also relish in the light of watching my children step inside someone else's "shoes."

We have so much to be thankful for as the holiday season approaches.  I pray we have the courage to trust God to expand our hearts and fill us with a greater abundance of love. 

Be sure to watch for opportunities to bring joy, peace and salvation to people in your path.  The blessing of giving to others far exceeds the temporary joy of receiving.

"For God so loved the world (that's the whole entirety of the world folks!) that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."  John 3:16-17

That's what I call, Good News!