The mission of Operation Christmas Child is to demonstrate God's love in a tangible way to needy children around the world, and together with the local church worldwide, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.
We went shopping the next day with a list of suggested items. We actually took the boxes with us to make sure what we bought would fit. I talked with Sweet Girl ahead of time to decide who we wanted to fill shoe boxes for. She chose a girl 5-9 years old (because her cousin is nine) and a boy 2-4 years old. Love Bug and I did a girl 2-4 years old and a boy 10-14 years old.
It was so heartwarming to see Sweet Girl shopping for children she does not even know. I let her pick out most of the items for "her" boxes. She loved filling them up as we shopped. She would say things like, "I think my girl would like that shirt because it's like (my cousin's)" and "Do you think you're boy would like this?"
As one would expect, Sweet Girl did ask a couple of times if she could get something for herself. I just reminded her that we weren't there shopping for ourselves and that we were getting gifts for children that wouldn't otherwise have gifts.
These children are not just receiving a shoe box filled with goodies and toiletries. By giving through OCC, each box will also include a message of God's love.
Also, we are planting seeds for our daughters to have giving, caring hearts and to give out of love, expecting nothing in return. To see the pure joy in Sweet Girl's face as we dropped off the filled shoe boxes made this mama proud.
How are you teaching giving to your family?
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