Jesus wants us to be His hands and feet. He wants us to LOVE those around us--in our schools, towns, our world! During the Christmas season, I try to think of gifts my family can give to Jesus. In other words, what can we do to love someone around us.
A few years ago, I realized that a lot of students who have breakfast and lunch provided at school might be without food during Christmas break (as well as spring break). We have a wonderful contact person at our school who knows the needs of many students and families in our community. I wish every town could have a gal like her. She gives us a little information on a few families who could really use some groceries, like the ages and number of kids, etc. A day or two before school lets out, we take an evening for our family to make a big grocery store run. We get a couple of shopping carts and our kids help make the decisions of what we could provide for the families. We try to make it nutritious, but also convenient and kid-friendly. (Sometimes I bake cookies before the shopping trip. We take a jug of milk and the cookies and drive around to see Christmas lights after we finish shopping.) When we get the groceries home, I box them up and drop them at the school to go to the families when school lets out for Christmas break. The families pick them up at the school or someone delivers them to their homes. Our contact lady usually delivers for us, since she already knows the families.
I love helping my kids realize ways they can help someone else. I love how our family becomes aware of our blessings and how God has provided all we need and more. The simple, mundane act of grocery shopping can become a labor of love. These boxes of groceries become our offering--our gift to the Child.
Dear Jesus, show me ways to love You more. Show me how I can be Your hands and feet. Thank You for coming to Earth so selflessly, knowing what Your time here would bring. Thank you for changing my life and help me show someone else Your amazing love.
Have you thought of Your gift for the Child?
Oh Angie, I just love reading your blog, you always make me think about things in a different way. I have gotten so many ideas from reading. This year we had two families within my school who had fires, I was able to help out one family with food and the other I was in charge of the drive for things needed. I really haven't done enough for those people in their time of need but I do feel like I made one small contribution for them during this holiday. I am hoping that I can inspire the act of giving in my own family half as well as you do.
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