How many times have you said to your kids:
“You know, some kids have NOTHING to eat”.
How many Christmases or birthday parties have your kids complained about their gifts?
For the most part my kids are pretty good. They are grateful: MOST OF THE TIME, but there’s always room for improvement.
I decided I wanted to SHOW them how fortunate they are, rather than just talk about it. Operation Christmas Child is an incredible initiative to do just that. We have a long-term goal to travel with my kids and do humanitarian work. Operation Christmas Child is a great stepping stone to show my kids how acts of kindness truly matter.
Operation Christmas Child is really simple. You pack a shoe box or any box with gifts for kids who otherwise wouldn’t get a gift. The boxes are dropped off to thousands of children in different countries thanks to countless volunteers!
The organization is religion-based. Our family is not religiously affiliated, but the principal of being a good person and helping others does fit perfectly with our family values. Sending happy thoughts to these children is similar to saying a prayer for us.
The process was so sweet. I told my kids what we were doing. I told them that we would be packing a gift box for a child their age who otherwise wouldn’t get anything.
BIG DECISIONS! Which colour paint should I choose?
They loved it. They really wanted to jam the box with candy, but because of customs restrictions candy is no longer allowed.
Marcello, my youngest was so excited. As we walked through the aisles and filled a cute box, his energy and excitement was contagious. NOT ONCE did my kids ask for anything for themselves. They asked questions about the kids we were buying for.
“Can they read?” “Do they speak English?” “Would weapons scare them?”
I’m continually amazed at how insightful kids are when we give them space and permission to express themselves.
Giorgio, my middle son who is eight years old, said, “Should we send a picture of ourselves?” I said would you want to know who gave you a gift? He said, “Yes but I just wanna write a note.”
So he did.
A day after they packed their boxes, Marcello said to me, “I’m basically Santa. I LIKE IT.”
I giggled and said “Yep buddy, you are Marcello Claus”.
Operation Christmas Child and packing a shoebox was a perfect example of how to “fill your bucket and someone elses’”. (One of our favourite books).
Giorgio said to me, “Giving is almost better than getting. It makes me feel nice”. I had to hold back tears as I nodded and said “YUP”.
Go get a shoebox and get packing! The 2015 National Collection week is November 16-22. For a list of drop off locations click HERE.
Also take time to watch the instructional video from Operation Christmas Child. It is BRILLIANT adorable and hilarious!
Take a peak:
Merry Christmas everyone (yes I know Remembrance Day first) and give the gift of giving!
MF
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