Define Necessity

Tags

Christmas, Compassion, Operation Christmas Child, poverty, Samaritan's Purse, World Vision

I don’t have much to say about this.

If you want to do something, consider sponsoring a child through Compassion.

Or purchase livestock for a family in need through World Vision.

At the very least, consider packing a shoe-box for Operation Christmas Child through Samaritan’s Purse.  This is a lovely way to bless children in need and get your own children involved.  Daisy has been talking about what to pack for her Christmas Child box this year, and Pearl is catching the spirit.

It couldn’t be simpler to purchase a few items, collect some toys and candy, and send a box of love to another country.  Samaritan’s Purse will even send you an email letting you know what country your box went to.  Last year ours went to Mexico.  We may include notes in English and Spanish this year on the chance they go that way again.

If you’re going to pack a box, you’d better get on it!  Next week is drop-off week.

Never discount the impact these few items can make on an impoverished child.  I have a friend who was blessed to participate in the distribution of Christmas Child boxes one year and she recounted how a little girl opened her box and exclaimed, “I’ve gotten a toothbrush!”  A toothbrush. We just threw away several worn ones.  I think we’ll pack a few.

There are several suggestions on the Samaritan’s Purse website, but my friend also mentioned that plastic shoe boxes (like Sterilite) are a good choice because they can be used to carry water when they aren’t holding treasures.

*There is some crossovers among these ministries. You can buy livestock through Compassion or sponser through World Vision, etc.  They are legitimate organizations with Christian foundations and emphasis.

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A Thankful Heart

Tags

30 days of thanks, gratitude journal, seasonal crafts, thanksgiving

Well, November is here and you know what that means:  Christmas music and decorations in every store.

Not what you thought of?  Good.  I love Christmas as much as the next guy (probably more) but its season is a little later.

At our house November means there are two little turkeys sitting on the mantle and a ceramic pumpkin tureen full of candy is somewhere around.

It also means my facebook feed will begin filling up with people starting a “30 days of Thankfulness” pledge.  Each day they post something they’re thankful for.  I like the idea, but it seems most people aren’t able to follow through with all 30 days.  I would probably be one of those people.

While it’s lovely to see Facebook turn into a series of thanks instead of gripes and muses, it’s certainly not the only outlet for recording one’s gratitude.

Several weeks ago, I came across this printable gratitude journal.

This is lovely, sweet, and just right to use for myself or my little women.  They love crafts and seasonal crafts are always a big hit.  If the idea appeals to you, it’s a super simple, totally free, printable.  Check it out at Motherhood Your Way.

In the past, we have created “Thankful Trees”.  The child traces her hand onto construction paper which we cut out to represent leaves.  I cut a large brown tree trunk, and we paste it onto a manilla or white paper.  Then on each leaf, she writes (or dictates to Mommy) something she is thankful for.  Daisy has requested we do this craft again this year.

It’s fun to look back on those later and see what she was thankful for.  Some of the most memorable are Pearl’s “for Mommy teaching me my letters” and 3 year old Daisy’s “for my new brother or sister”.

One of the neat things about a 30 day challenge is it pushes you to think beyond the top 5 things on your list.  Everyone is thankful for family, friends, food.  And certainly we ought to reflect with gratitude on these things.  After that, what will you put?

I’m thankful for my bed.  It’s just right for me and I always miss it when I’m away.  How blessed I am to have not only a safe place to sleep each night, but a just right, perfectly soft, not too warm, not too cold, snuggily, happy place to rest.  How blessed indeed.

Let this be a season of rejoicing and gratitude.  Write your blessings, not your wish list.

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;  his love endures forever.    -1 Chronicles 16:34

Devote yourselves in prayer, being watchful and thankful.  -Colossians 4:2

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. -Colossians 3:15

I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude
is happiness doubled by wonder.  ~G.K. Chesterton

Sugar

Tags

Candy, donuts, Halloween

Scene:  Pearl and the Man of the House are filling a plastic black cauldron with candy to pass out to trick-or-treaters on Halloween night.

Pearl:  I’m just going to taste this one to make sure it’s good enough for the children.

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Scene:  Family has returned home from shopping trip and a treat at Dairy Queen.  Lady and Pearl are sitting on couch.  Daisy is hyped up on sugar.

Daisy: I wish I had one of those swings with a bar like this in here and I could go like this. . .[Runs across living room holding on to imaginary swing.]  and like this. . .[runs across in other direction] and then flip like this. . .

Lady:  You mean a trapeze?

Daisy (offhand): Yeah.

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Scene:  Lady and Daisy are buying donuts for the family.  They are pulling out of the parking lot, headed back to the grandparents house.

Daisy:  I wish a dozen meant a hundred donuts.

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Scene:  It is the morning after Halloween.  Lady wakes up to hear Daisy and Pearl arguing.

Daisy:  You need to eat cereal if you’re hungry, Pearl.

Pearl (whines):  My tummy is growling for candy!!

Lady:  Come here, Pearl.  (Pearl comes.)  We don’t eat candy for breakfast, Dear.

Pearl:  But I’m not eating breakfast, I’m eating candy.