Wednesday, October 27, 2010

An Idea

We have so much.

We have so much food.
So much stuff.
So many toys.
So many clothes.
So many wheels.
So many resources.
So much free time.

I am trying to get across to the boys how much we have and how big of an obligation we have to share food. to share toys. to share clothes. to share wheels. to share our resources. to share our time.

All those things should not just be for us and our family and our friends.

We do Operation Christmas Child boxes every year, and a toy drive through Noahs work, but this year I wanted to add to it. Enter the Samaritan's Purse gift catalog. The gift catalog has all kinds of gifts that you can sponsor for people who need help.

I got so excited as I read through it with the children. In honor of Berean I will pay to feed a hungry baby for a week. In honor of 4 healthy births I will help save the lives of Mothers and Babies. In honor of sweet Lincoln who loves milk I will help provide milk for another child. In honor of Lincoln who got bit over and over while we were camping I will buy a mosquito net for a child in a malaria infested country.

Roman listened carefully as I read through the catalog. He said that he wanted to buy a fruit tree for a family. Deacon wanted to provide food provisions for a family for a month. "that way", he said, "I can help a baby and a big brother".

It made me sad to think that a "cheap" dinner out for our family of 6 could feed a family for a month. And that instead of buying halloween candy I could have used the money to buy an emergency shelter for a family.

"I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these...you did for Me."
Matthew 25:40b NIV

As we enter the holiday season I am going to be asking myself these questions:

What do I really need to spend money on?
What could I do with my money that would make an impact bigger than me?
How can I teach my kids to want less and give more?

I think I know the answer to that last question.
I need to model it.

I encourage all of you to check the links and inspire your family to give!

4 comments:

Lauren said...

God has been tormenting me with all of these questions lately. Last year, we used the money we normally spend on the kids and let them do operation christmas child boxes. It was interesting to see how they reacted Christmas morning when there were no presents from mom and dad(Santa brought one gift for everyone even though Matt hoped he wouldn't). I'll be praying for you guys as you wrestle with these issues and raising the children God has entrusted to you. I'm often overwhelmed at the task.

Unknown said...

so true...we do have it pretty good here and I am just bad at remembering to give to different things until it is "too late" for whatever it is. Thanks for the reminder!

Jamie said...

Yes, don't we all struggle with that...Thanks for bring this to our attention. I saw the catalog come in the mail a week or two ago and never opened it. I glanced at the cover and thought "A gift catalog for Samaritan's Purse? And just how does that work and what would they even sell?" Well duh, Jamie.
Now that I know what it's about, what a great idea during the holiday season.

LS said...

Absolutely love this post and have been wondering many of the same things myself!