I know it's not technically the Christmas season until next week, but I remembered this and wanted to share it with you all. Please share it with others!
I have always loved to give to those in need. It is one of
life’s greatest joys.
Years ago, I was fortunate enough to receive a cash gift of
several thousand dollars in December. The money was marked "for your personal use." I tithed and offered on it right away. I had enough, so I thought about what best to do with the rest of it. How could I help
someone else who WAS in need?
I was in Princeton living in the old house at the time and packing
to go to Ohio for Christmas when I got the idea. I went to the bank and got
cash and bought Christmas cards at the Dollar Store.
Back home, I portioned the money out into the cards, putting
$40-$50 in each one, and wrote The Lord wants you to have this money – Merry
Christmas! I did not sign my name or put JPH or any of
that - the glory was to be ALL God's.
Once in Ohio, I got my then Mother-in-Law to drive me to the local
Dollar General.
I went inside with the cards, asking the Lord to
show me who He wanted to have the money. As He pointed out each one, I walked
up to them and said “The Lord wants you to have this. Merry Christmas – God bless
you,” and then I would smile at them and go in search of the next one. The
whole thing took less than 5 minutes.
I will never forget the last one, an older woman. Somebody’s
grandmother. She was looking at toys. She had almost nothing in her basket. I
could tell by the stress on her face she didn’t have the money to be looking at
those toys. I had seen that look on my Mother’s face many times at Christmas
when she desperately tried to provide some kind of Christmas for us when Dad
would not give her any money to buy gifts. Dad grew up in abject poverty and we were already very poor, and he just did not believe in spending money on gifts. My heart broke for her.
Probably one of those grandparents raising their grandchildren
because her adult child is on drugs, I thought. There is so much addiction in that part of
Ohio that there are literally highway signs with a number to call if you see someone driving erratically.
I walked up to her and smiled. “The Lord wants you to have
this, maam, Merry Christmas! God bless you!,” and she burst into tears. The
Lord had just made her Christmas!
As I walked back out to the car with tears filling my eyes,
I told the Lord I wish I could do a dollar store giveaway every year for the
rest of my life. I knew He would get the glory and their Christmases would be SO
much happier! If He ever brings me any wealth, I will spend my life and wealth doing those and any other things I can find that help the needy and bring Him glory. What could be better than that?!
If you have extra money this holiday season, know you are blessed.
Many sit in need, wondering how to even buy food to put on the table. I have
known many lean Thanksgivings AND Christmases – out of work, out of money, out of joy. I have known many trips to the grocery store without enough money. When I was married, I always tried to calculate in my head how much the groceries and tax would be because it was not uncommon to have to put an item back because I couldn't pay at the register. It's a terrible feeling when you have to do that, I didn't buy anything extra for my family as it was.
Growing up, we never got much for Christmas, but my brother
and I did not care, we were poor children and thrilled to get anything at all. But
it grieved my beautiful Mom to have children she could not provide well for.
My Mother loved Jesus but she grew to hate Christmas because
it was so hard and painful for her. She always just counted the days until it was over. I
have done that myself many times over the years. But Christmas is supposed to be about the
greatest gift of all, and the joy HE brought to the world. We need to take the
focus back to that. Here’s a way you can help put the focus back on Jesus this holiday season.
If you have extra – even an extra $20 or $40, you can be a
miracle to someone else. You can bring Jesus glory by giving as He gave if you
give to those in need and tell them it is from Him. The world needs to know He
is real and He does care what they are going through. I don't have money, but I am going to try to put aside at least $40 and do this again, even if I can only touch one person this year. And I'm going to drive to the Dollar General in the poorest area of the city to do it. That's one witnessed to for Him.
If you have plenty, make yours a Christmas of REALLY giving.
Walk into the grocery store and pay for someone else’s groceries (I got to do that once when I lived in Princeton - the cashier had rung up this young man ahead of me in line who was only trying to buy milk and cereal, and he didn't have enough to pay for it.) It was SO much fun!! I got to witness to the young man, too, as we walked outside. I prayed and prayed to get to do it again but the opportunity was never there where someone could not pay - Collin County, Texas is very prosperous).
Pay for someone's gas when they fill up their car. God will lead you clearly if you really have a heart to help. Give an envelope with money to an old woman in a dollar store and help her believe in Jesus if she doesn’t already. You can put a gospel tract in there with it. (My favorite is The Father’s Love Letter) The Lord will draw your attention to who needs it the most when you go there. Just walk around the store until He does.
BE the miracle someone else is praying for. In that way, you
are bringing God glory that YOU are not in need, and helping someone else who
IS. And people never forget miracles like money when they are in need, they
help them believe.
And you don't have to limit your giving to the holidays, you can do it any time, but the holidays are really hard on people who already don't have enough.
We are to be the light in this dark world - go out there and shine!
Please share in the comments if you have anything you do around the holidays to help those who have less!