Open Your Hand

Today Daddy and I and some friends are working the Operation Christmas Child Distribution Center in Atlanta helping to ready the shoe boxes for shipping to countries all over the world. The last time we worked an OCC distribution center was years ago when Ayla was in high school. We drove with the youth of Emmanuel UMC to Minneapolis to volunteer. We had so much fun. We felt like Santa's elves in the toy workshop at the North Pole. I remember wondering what each child would think as they opened their shoebox. Would it be something they needed? Would it bring them joy? It was a long shift, assembly-line work, but we had such fun working it. I remember our hoots and hollers when we stacked our boxes high on a pallet, wrapped it in cellophane and rolled it away for delivery. I will be interested in seeing how our experience today compares to that memory. What new things will we learn? What new people will we meet?

I also remember that after we worked the center, we spent a day at the Mall of America. It was a fun time trekking all over that 4.2 million-square foot mall of 522 stores to do some Christmas shopping. Likewise, Daddy and I will be going to the Mall of Georgia. It's got less than half the stores, but it is the largest mall in Georgia, and I'm looking forward to visiting it. Daddy, not so much. It the juxtaposition of working the distribution center where a small shoe box is filled with toys, school supplies and other needs and a mall filled with, well, stuff that really puts into perspective what we're doing and whom God has called us to serve.

We are blessed beyond measure. We have food, clothes, a place to live, our health and lots of stuff. Sometimes we complain about what we don't have or can't afford, but honestly, it's pathetic when compared to the child who walks miles for water or is lucky to have one meal a day.

God is very clear about our job of helping the poor. God said through Moses in Deuteronomy 15:11, "Since there will never cease to be some in need on the earth, I therefore command you, “Open your hand to the poor and needy neighbor in your land.” Christ spoke to it in Matthew 25, reminding us to care "for the least of these" as if they were Him. We will always have the poor, Christ tells us in Mark 14:7.

We want to encourage you to seek opportunities to help the poor. Find times to volunteer for an organization that reaches out to those in need or to donate to it. Shelters, child-sponsorship charities, food banks and the like are a good place to start. Even ringing a bell next to a red kettle outside a department store for the Salvation Army (or dropping currency in it) can help. Go on a mission trip if you can. It reminds us that we are not the center of the universe and there are so many with far less than we have. And the blessings you will get from spending the time or money to do so will far outweigh any Christmas gift you get this year. If it means sacrificing a few lattes a month, it's worth it. Do it together. Do it for God's children. Do it for Jesus.

Discussion: Tell about a time when you volunteered to help the least of these? Is there a charity that is near to your heart that you both could volunteer at or donate something to?

Prayer: Lord, we get so caught up in the business of the season and our lack of time or funds to meet it. Help us to remember there are people all over this world who are struggling and living on little. Help us to make an effort to reach out to these in Your name and for Your glory. In Jesus, Amen.