Every year, especially around the holidays, Matt and I try to find something special for Carter to do for the good of others. Whether it be donating items to the Freecycle event that our church hosts, adopting a family at Christmas, or donating food to the food banks, we just try to teach Carter to care first for those in need. This year, along with other things we are doing, Carter decided himself that he wanted to be involved in Operation Christmas Child. If you are not familiar with it, Samaritans Purse collects shoeboxes full of essentials and small gifts and then delivers them all around the world to underprivileged children and orphanages. And since it was his idea, we went with it and for an entire weekend that was his only thought and mission....to fill the boxes! We started with just him doing one, and then he told us that we needed to do one as well, and if we are doing three, why not do 4....so somewhere out there 4 little kids will be so happy to get a gift from us!....amongst the millions that are being donated across the country.
To get things started we selected our boxes....all large enough to hold lots of goodies. Except there was one box that was really small and I told Carter "well, buddy lets find another, that is just too small" and he insisted "mom, it is perfect, it will hold lots". I opened it up and nearly started to cry because this is what we found. A shoeprint printed in the bottom and the lid had this message....Carter was right, the box was perfect for our cause!
although the company was clearly talking about recycled products I could not stop thinking about it's new use and the message it could send to a child in need....that indeed a shoebox just might be able to change the world, but if not the world, at least perhaps the life of a child. To recieve a gift with such a message could be the inspiration needed to keep stepping forward in the pursuit of changing their destiny. so maybe not the box itself, but the message it sends could make a difference!
Carter wanted to draw a picture for the 10-14 year old girl we bought the journal for, along with other goodies!
He loved picking things out for the 5-9 year old boy as well...legos, puzzle, matchbox car, socks, and essentials. I think the little boy will be very pleased!
Posing with his 4 gifts before we take them to be donated.Carter, your sense of compassion never ceases to amaze me. You are a kind boy with a big heart and God's love surely lives within you. May you continue to love the Lord and yourself. I promise as your mother to nurture your desire to follow Christ and become the person God has chosen you to be! With all my love, your momma
