Gifts of Hope: There is something wonderful about giving them.

Last year we decided to make our Christmas different. We sought God and asked, “How could we give? Where could we give?” One idea was to start a Jesus Jar. I wrote about it here yesterday: The Jesus Jar [Part 1]

The Jesus Jar is really a red tin that sat on a shelf in the laundry room throughout the year, until after Thanksgiving.Then it was time to open it. When I lifted the lid and we peered inside there were “ooh’s” and “ah’s” and then all kinds of crazy. This was our first time seeing its contents all year. We dumped out all the bills and change on the kitchen table and went to counting. We already owned a changed counter, and we brought it out to help. Toddler couldn’t wait. She fed the machine faster than it could count, and enjoyed doing so. Husband had to keep stopping and starting and stopping, and did so patiently.

Only Son volunteered to do the counting of the paper kind. He got a bit frustrated at the counting — starting and stopping and starting, too. He’s strong in math. I had confidence he could count it. And I was glad to let him, praying, all the while, he believes it’s more blessed to give than receive. That when we give to the least of these we give to Jesus, and the money in his hands is an offering. And where our heart is that is where our treasure will be also, where moth and dust do not destroy. And on eternity is where I want his heart — all of their hearts.

While we were tallying up, it was loud and there was chaos and some clamor and I doubted and I wondered, “Is this really going to work? Is is worth it? Are they getting it?” I passed the catalogs around and circled all around, with camera snapping and heart hoping. We wanted each of the children to choose gifts to give — Gifts of Hope. We did not give them any limits. “Choose one gift you would like to give,” was the only directive.

So they did.

They chose the gifts; chickens and rabbits and supplies and Bibles. I chose, too. And Husband filled the order form. When Husband added it all up, when he added the cost of each of the gifts we chose out of that catalog, the total number came out, almost to the dollar, of what we emptied out of that Jesus Jar. Emptied so that someone else may be full. And I knew, God had met us there. And I am reminded, “Don’t grow weary in doing good.” Offer what is in my hands, and do my part. I trust God do the work in the children’s hearts, and perhaps multiply the chickens and rabbits we gave, like He did the loaves and fishes.

Are you looking for a new way to give this Christmas? May I invite you to click through the pages of the catalog below with me?  If you are on a mobile device, view the catalog and video here. If you are reading in an email or reader, you can try clicking here.