Giving Is Better Than Getting

This is our first year as a family packing shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child. I remember doing it as a child, but didn't realize until recently that it was still being done. After a few searches I found what I was looking for on the Samaritan's Purse website where you can discover what packing a shoe box is all about, how to pack a shoe box, build a shoe box online, and much more. While browsing on their website, I stumbled across their family resources page where it talks about the new Veggie Tales movie Merry Larry & The True Light of Christmas and their partnership with Focus on the Family to provide a guide for those participating in Operation Christmas Child. All of this sparked my interest even more. I discovered coloring pages, a discussion guide to go along with the movie, and several other items to create your own packing party. Before I read most of that my mind was already made up that our family was going to pack a few shoe boxes ourselves. My husband and I took both of our kids to the local store and allowed them to pick out items to place in their shoe boxes. I was overwhelmed at how ecstatic my eight year old was at picking things out for less fortunate children. We were probably there an hour or more narrowing down what would fit in a box and wouldn't work, or wasn't allowed to be sent. Afterwards we picked up our very own copy of Merry Larry & The True Light of Christmas.

Tonight we watched Merry Larry, twice. Both of my children glued to the TV, although I'm not really sure that my two-year old understands any of it. The movie is about a little girl with only one Christmas wish, which is to help a friend in need. I paused the movie a few times during the second viewing to openly discuss what was happening with my oldest, how we could help in our community, what we could do, and how we can pack our shoe boxes to be sent to other children. Tomorrow will be packing day for us, our own little packing party. 

Our family has definitely found a new Christmas tradition, just in time for the holidays. Merry Larry and packing Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes. I wonder what other way we can find to give back and spread the joy of Christmas to others, I will have to see what I can find. After all, giving is better than getting!

"Christmas shines most bright and true when you give the love God gave to you!"

From the overview of Merry Larry & The True Light Of Christmas