Filled With Blessings

Once a year, usually the first Wednesday in November, our church takes on the task of packing shoebox gifts for Operation Christmas Child, a ministry of Samaritan's Purse.  Franklin Graham, son of the well known evangelist, Billy Graham, was the brains behind the idea, which began 25 years ago.  Our church joined the effort in 2001, packing a couple of dozen boxes.  Over the years we have gradually added to the number of boxes packed, and this year our total will be 9 dozen!

Included in the shoebox gifts are school supplies, (crayons, scissors, pencils, sharpeners, erasers, small tablets), hygiene items (washcloth, soap & plastic container, toothbrush & holder, combs), and many small toy items to bring joy to a child's heart.  This year's list includes a small stuffed animal, Nativity foam puzzle, 2 small color books, heart stamper, cross necklace, whistle, bouncy ball, plastic flute, matchbox car & small football for boys, and  jump rope &  hair accessory for girls.  For added pleasure, we include a few suckers, Smarties, and a pack of gum.

The best part about the shoebox gifts is the storybook which is added to each box at the distribution centers.  Written in the various languages around the world, the book tells the child about Jesus and His love for them.  Later, after the shoeboxes have been handed out, the communities sponsor classes similar to our Sunday Schools to teach the kids further.  Upon graduating from the program, they receive a Bible.

As I think about 25 years of these shoeboxes being distributed, I can't fathom the number of lives that have been touched.  I was able to find the following statistics:
  

Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child, the world's largest Christmas project of its kind, has collected and delivered more than 157 million shoebox gifts to children in more than 160 countries and territories.

In 2018, Operation Christmas Child hopes to collect enough shoebox gifts to reach another 11 million children. Nearly 11 million shoebox gifts were collected worldwide in 2017, with more than 8.8 million collected in the U.S.

Now, think about the fact many of the recipients have parents, grandparents, and other family members who also hear about God's love through the gift their child receives.  That's a whole lot of lives impacted!

As someone who has watched shoebox gifts being assembled over the years, my life has also been impacted.  It is a true representation of how little it takes to make a huge difference in the life of a child. 

If you would like to learn more about this wonderful outreach, you can check out their website at this link:   https://www.samaritanspurse.org/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child/

The Process of Participation

The premise of this blog post goes back to April of this year.  At that time, my husband and I journeyed across North Dakota to attend the 2018 convention for the Republican party of our state.  This convention takes place every other year, and is where the party endorses candidates for the upcoming elections. 

After attending, I came away a bit disheartened.  The number of delegates allowed from each district is based on how many voted in the last election.  I don't recall the exact numbers, but I believe District 2 here in the northwest corner of the state was allowed around 80 delegates.  We could only convince 15 to participate. 

Now I realize the political scene isn't for everyone.  It wasn't for me prior to the time my husband got involved in state politics.  As time goes on, however, I realize it is getting more and more important to do so.  When "I don't want to get involved in the process" becomes the attitude of the majority, what rises to power is people who have ideas outside the thinking of that majority.  Think back to our last presidential election, when many of us found ourselves not liking the prospect of either candidate.  This is what happens when everyday, ordinary people don't get involved.

A Scottish philosopher by the name of Alexander Tyler of the University of Edinburg noted eight stages that articulate well what history has shown as a pattern for the rise and fall of the world's great civilizations.  Listed below are the eight stages.  As you read them, think back on the history of the United States and follow through the pattern.

1.  From bondage to spiritual growth
2.  From spiritual growth to great courage
3.  From courage to liberty
4.  From liberty to abundance
5.  From abundance to complacency
6.  From complacency to apathy
7.  From apathy to dependence
8.  From dependence back to bondage

As I ponder this list, I find myself placing our nation somewhere between the complacency and apathy stages, perhaps even inching toward the dependence stage.  Many people just aren't interested in getting involved, and simply want the government to take care of everything for them.

But the heart of a nation is the people.  We are the ones who are supposed to be making our nation great, not any politician.  So how do we change things?  Perhaps by not being complacent or apathetic in our views, and by getting out to vote when the elections roll around.

Tomorrow is the day.  I will be voting.  Will you?