operation christmas child

Each year our youth group participates in Operation Christmas Child.  Sunday night we unloaded the church bus at Dollar Tree and the students stormed the store in search of the perfect gifts to send to a special child who ordinarily wouldn't get to experience Christmas.  My MOPS group is also participating in Operation Christmas Child so since Bryce is at the age now that he can understand giving to others and he's old enough to pick out reasonable gifts, we decided to do a box as a family.  We took the kids to Dollar Tree yesterday and let Bryce pick out gifts for a 2-4 year old boy!

 

 

He had a great time picking out toys for the little boy.  He and Emmy may have also gotten a football for themselves.  When we talked about this at home, we told him he and Emmy wouldn't be getting gifts because we were doing something special for someone else.  However, Jason has been looking for a nerf football to throw with Bryce so it kind of just happened.  Oops!  But it didn't take away from the experience and the purpose of it.

 

Emmy was a big helper.

 

Bryce took over once the basket got too heavy. 

 

The organization has guideline and suggestions so we tried to get a variety of things.  We got some essentials like soap, socks, toothbrushes,  a rag and a flashlight and then Bryce picked out some fun things that will hopefully put a smile on a little boy's face.  He got a coloring book, markers, monster trucks, a police car, a football, a whale, a Mickey Mouse bag, and dum dums (Emmy had carried them off somewhere before I snapped the picture).

 

I wrapped the plastic bin and Bryce helped fill it.  I took a picture of the kids and Bryce made a Christmas card for the boy and we taped the picture inside so he would know who sent the gift.

 

This is such a great organization and a fun tradition to start with our kids.  It's so important to us to teach our kids the value of giving and not focus on receiving at Christmas.  Sure it's fun to get gifts, but Jesus was the best gift we could ever be given and we need to remember to honor Him first during the Christmas season and not just focus on the things we want!

 

And don't forget to do good and to share with those in need.  These are the sacrifices that please God.

 

Hebrews 13:16 (NLT)