Proverbs 31:20 "She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy."
So this week we're going to skip ahead a bit to verse 20. With Christmas just around the corner, this tends to be the time of year that we think about the needy more and more.
Over the years before digital photography was invented, I had a tenancy to take photos and never develop the film. So here it is 7 years after I converted to digital and I have an entire grocery bag full of used film that has never been developed!! So about two months ago I decided that I'd develop them 2 rolls a week. Last night I picked up the two from this week and was really excited to see photos from one of my favorite Christmases!
I had worked in the Collection department collecting negative checking accounts. I'd call people and set up payment arrangements to get them paid off so they didn't get hit with a law suit. I heard every excuse in the book, and most of the time they were lying so I had to really use my instincts to make sure they were telling the truth. One day, I received a call from a lady who had three children and she said they had lost everything they had, and didn't have a place to stay so they were staying in a halfway house. She was just so devastated that Christmas was in three weeks and she would not be able to provide for her family! I made payment arrangements with her best I could and then we ended the call. As I sat thinking about those poor kids I knew I had to do something! I sent an email out to the banking employees asking for donations! The entire bank came together and donated clothes, toys, even a bike, and an entire Christmas dinner! On Christmas Eve that year I loaded up a truck and drove down to deliver the gifts. The truck was filled to the brim and I was convinced this would be the best Christmas EVER! When I arrived I began to unload the truck and the kids were squealing with excitement! There was something for everyone, even the mom and dad! Sitting there watching the excitement and seeing how grateful those children were opening the gifts was the best Christmas gift anyone could have ever given me!!
Now that I have children of my own, it's so easy to get lost in buying for them at Christmas and wanting them to have the best of everything. As I pick out their gifts and place them in my basket, I picture their faces opening that gift on Christmas morning! Those little faces give me so much joy! However, those little faces learning to give someone else joy, is even better!! I want my girls to learn to extend their arms to the poor, and needy. I want them to have more joy watching someone opening a gift then getting a gift themselves!
So this week, you Challenge is to find a way to give back this week to someone less fortunate. This is a great thing for your children to witness! Weather it's buying a homeless person a meal, or going through old toys and letting your children give their toys to another child, or volunteering at a soup kitchen. However you decide to give back is okay big or small!
Head over the facebook page and let us know how you gave back this week, or how you intend to give back! Prayers this week that God will lead you to the right person!
