Each Christmas season our church group participates in blessing a lower-income school with gifts for each one of the children.
It takes much preparation and the generosity of many church members to pull this event off, but the outcome is pure joy! I love seeing the trailers fill up with the brightly wrapped boxes filled with warm clothes and toys for every child. But nothing compares to the children’s animated facial expressions as they unwrap a gift especially prepared for them.
Basketballs and sneakers, baby dolls and pjs. All unwrapped with squeals of delight.
Experiencing such fun made me think of this Scripture in Acts 20:
We must help the weak, remembering the word that the Lord Jesus himself said,
“There is more happiness in giving than in receiving.”
One little girl had asked for 3 matchbox trucks in her box so that she would have something to give to her brothers on Christmas morning. The thought of her sweet request made me want to weep and smile simultaneously because she understood the meaning of this Scripture.
As you make your Christmas shopping list, consider including someone who would never expect to receive a gift from you and use it as an opportunity to share the ultimate gift this Christmas: the saving grace of Jesus Christ. And then see if giving doesn’t make YOU the happiest of all.
