Jesus Gift included: homemade raspberry jam, applesauce, peanut brittle, fresh fruit and a variety of good books and CD’s
One of my favorite Christmas memories while growing up I will never forget…it was the year we surprised a needy family with Christmas gifts. The joys of giving that Christmas stick vividly in my memory. I remember the excitement me and my siblings experienced while we picked out fun Christmas toys for the kids. I remember the enthusiastic response we received from our recipients as they opened the door to our surprise – a basket full of treasures. It was amazing! To this day I know this event had a serious impact on my life and was another seed planted in my heart with a passion for generosity.
This Christmas we had the joy of seeking out another such needy family to which we could provide a little Christmas joy this year. We don’t have much to give, but it is the gift of Christ’s love that makes each small gift a fragrant aroma before Him and to the recipient. The thought of ministering mercy – the thought of experiencing the true joys of taking part in being His hands and feet to a needy world – fills me with such wonder and awe! It’s not about us! It’s all about Him!
We heard of a needy family behind in their mortgage payments, experiencing multiple health issues amongst their children and the father suffering under severe shortage of work opportunities. We called them up, asked for a wish list of specific needs and desires, gathered a few other families alongside us to meet the needs. Just last night we brought our Christmas baskets of goodies to their home and joyfully praised the Savior together. It was heaven! After experiencing this I really felt like this is what it is all about! Just one more encouragement and motivation for me to continue striving to live on less in order that we might give more generously!
I share this not to boast in our giving, but rather to plant the seeds in your heart…to testify before you that it is indeed more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35)! How can we cut back on our living rather than our giving even in the midst of this economic downturn?
loved this!
we are now sponsoring a child born on the same day as our oldest child and i can’t wait to tell the kids on Christmas morning all about this little boy! we homeschool, so it will also be a great way to help them write and draw art for this child! i love giving!!!!
may God bless you!
Do you have your recipe for homemade jam posted somewhere? We make a lot of jam and jelly each year, but my mom is pretty set on the old fashioned way of heaping in white sugar. I’d like to see some healthier alternatives and see if I couldn’t get her to change her mind.
Oh, and I love the gift basket idea. What a great way to bless someone and show them Christ’s love!
For the jam, I used pamona’s pectin. It is a natural pectin that includes a recipe to make the jam with other sweeteners. We used rapadura and it worked very well.
Good post; thanks for sharing. I’ve written on this subject several times in the last couple months, as the Lord has laid on our hearts, too, to “cut back on our living rather than our giving.”
The New Testament story of the widow who gave her two pennies is so encouraging. Living in an affluent land, we too easily we give out of our plenty, like the rich man who gave from his purse full of coins. Even now, as everyone talks about tightening our belts, we’re still giving out of luxurious wealth compared to much of the world! But perhaps the next few years will bring us more opportunities to learn a heart like the widow’s. Imagine giving possibly less than ever before but finding it more precious to the Lord than ever before…. I love these paradoxes of faith!
At any rate, developing a heart like that widow’s is at least one thing we can look forward to gladly in an economic depression!
We were priviledged to be able to share God’s blessings with others this year too. Truly it is more blessed to give than to receive!
Hi Lindsay,
I am a regular at your blog, though I have not commented earlier. I am also a SAHM and have a son the same age as your daughter (he was born premmie). Love your blog.
I really feel this is the message of Christmas to give to the needy and make them happy. Buying gifts and giving to all our relatives and friends. Is that the real message of Christmas? People have forgotten that Christmas is first of all the celebrate the birth of Lord Jesus. Messengers like you keep the true spirit of Christmas alive.
Merry Christmas to you and your family and I hope the New Year brings lot more happiness in your life.