One Precious Gift

There is a chill in the air and the Christmas spirit is well under way. The stores are filled and children are filling out their list in hopes that Christmas morning will reveal the magic of what they have hoped and wished for.

This season is my favorite! I love decorating, baking, Christmas music, and just about everything that comes along with it. I love the smiles and giggles on my children's little faces when they unwrap that one special present and they can't believe it is finally theirs!

I love the fact that wrapped under the hustle and bustle is often the most precious gift of all. We often rush and rush and do whatever it takes to see that smile and glimmer from our children on Christmas morning. The most precious gift is not what we have given them, but the joy of giving it to them.

So often I think of other children around the world during Christmas. I wonder if they feel the same excitement and joy of the season as I do? I have often looked at the presents sitting under my tree weeks before Christmas and my heart breaks knowing that millions of children would give anything to just have the love of the season.

Operation Christmas child is an amazing organization that tries to provide children with not only that special present, but with the most precious gift of all; Jesus. I always make a point to get my children involved in this every year. I want my kids to understand that Christmas is about family, love, giving, and Christ. I always take my kids with me and let them pick out the gifts that we put into our shoebox.

As we wrapped our shoe box and prepared to take it to church this morning, I asked my kids if they understood what this box meant. My oldest son said that it was the only Christmas gift some child would get.  I was proud that he really understood and was willing to give to others. We then said a prayer for the little boy that might get the box we packed. We prayed that he would come to know the Lord and the box would be a blessing to him.

I pray that the hustle and bustle of the holiday season does not distract us from the true and most precious meaning of Christmas. God sent us His only son as the most precious gift He could ever give us. I pray that I can teach my kids to always show love and have a giving heart towards others.

My hope for this holiday season is that every boy and girl who receives a shoebox will know that they are loved by a Savior who gave His life for them. I pray that as we decorate our houses and spend time opening presents with our family, we stop to remember hundreds of children who are simply happy and overjoyed with the love shown through one simple shoebox....

http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC/