Shoe Boxes

This is perhaps my favorite way to give...  It started back in 2014 when my children were just 2 and 3.  My dear friend Heidi and I had an abundance of like new toys in our homes and wanted to find a way to share them with those in need.  We decided on a Holy Spirit led scavenger hunt.

I asked the kids to gather up gifts they wanted to share with children in need.  Moments later my little boy returns with his favorite Jesse Bear in tow, and hands it over to me.  My heart longed to say NO!  You can't give away your favorite teddy bear!!  But I knew that was exactly the kind of gifts that Jesus was after.  Jesus doesn't want our leftovers... He wants our best!  After making sure that he was certain, I gently took the teddy bear from his tiny hands and helped him to tie a bow with tears streaming from my eyes.  My heart was aching, his heart was full of joy.  Perhaps this is why Jesus tells us to become like children in Matthew 18:3.  Their hearts are so pure... so giving... so trusting.  It is a moment in time that has forever changed me.

“I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless you repent [that is, change your inner self—your old way of thinking, live changed lives] and become like children [trusting, humble, and forgiving], you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matt 18:3, AMP)

We gathered up other gifts, wrapped them, and loaded them into our van.  We headed off to meet Heidi on the downtown streets of our little mountain town.  Together with our children we prayed and asked the Holy Spirit to lead us to the families who needed these gifts most.

Our first stop was an old run down hospital, turned apartment.  We looked for signs of children and saw a few toys scattered by a broken window.  We entered inside this run down building with kids in tow.  I was blessed to have Heidi with me who is far more courageous and fearless than me.  We knocked on the door and a beautiful woman answered with 5 small children peering out from around her skirt.  She only spoke Spanish.  So in broken Spanish I told her Merry Christmas and that Jesus loved her and led us to her that day to bring gifts for Christmas.  I asked if she would be willing to receive them and she said yes.  Behind her was a tiny Christmas tree.  It was December 23rd and there were no gifts under the tree.  We handed her close to fifteen wrapped gifts that day.  The children's eyes were the size of silver dollars as they watched these gifts fill the empty space under their tree.  I don't know what her story is... but I do know that Jesus provided gifts for her children that year.  He is so good!

You may be wondering about Jesse Bear... he was still in the van along with other gifts.  We had one more stop to make.  We drove down along the river into a trailer park.  We again looked for signs of children and knocked on a door.  A woman answered the door with a three year old boy in her arms and a gaggle of children behind her.   My little two year old handed his Jesse Bear to the small child in her arms and said Merry Christmas.  We blessed the other children with gifts as well.  With Christmas wishes we said our goodbye's and headed home, empty vans and full hearts.

As we returned home that night I talked to my little boy about how it felt to give Jesse Bear away.  He wasn't sad.  I told him about Matthew 25:40 where Jesus tells His friends the gifts we give to the least of these we give to Him.  When he handed his teddy bear to that little boy that day, it was as if He handed it to Jesus.  He smiled.  Somehow I think he already knew that.  It was me that was figuring it out.

And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of Mine, you did it for Me.’ (Matt 25:40, NASB)

That was the beginning of a 5 year tradition with our two families that only ended when we moved to the Midwest.  After the first year... our toy supply dwindled and we ended up purchasing new toys and gift cards.  Many times the Lord would provide the gifts.  For example... I ordered a boy Corolle baby doll for my son and Amazon sent a duplicate.  I called them and tried to send it back but they said to just keep it.  So... we had a beautiful boy baby doll to give that year.  The little girl that received it was so excited because her mama was pregnant and expecting a baby boy!

Yes! This takes courage, but mostly just reliance on the Holy Spirit!  Jesus is just waiting for us to follow Him... He knows where the needs are if we just ask.

Please be wise about this.  Do not put yourself or your children in harms way.  I recommend going midday.  After our first year, our husbands always accompanied us - but mostly just because they didn't want to miss out!   We never once felt unsafe.  Nervous yes!  But not unsafe.

Ask the Holy Spirit where the needs are in your community.  I assure you that God knows and is just waiting for someone to ask.  If you want to give gifts to the King at Christmas - give to the least of these!  After all, it is His birthday!!