In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. Matthew 5:16
The week before thanksgiving is the time for Operation Christmas Child through Samaritan’s Purse. Often people call it Operation Shoebox because it gives people a chance to fill a shoebox for children ages 2-14. Those shoeboxes then are collected by churches all over the United States and around the world. From there they get cartoned and taken to a Central Drop off, where they are loaded onto a tractor trailer and taken to a Processing Center and from there they get loaded onto planes, ships, trains and trucks and taken to children who otherwise would not get a Christmas gift.
These boxes are prayed over that the right box would get to the right kid. And believe it or not there are millions of stories that testify to just that happening. One of my favorites is the year a volunteer went to Africa to hand out boxes. She was so excited to experience one of her own amazing stories which only built up as she passed out the shoeboxes. She zeroed in on one little girl and watched her with great anticipation as she opened her box. Then her joy turned to sadness as they girl opened up her box to reveal a knitted hat, scarf and gloves set. But to her amazement, with tears of joy and a huge smile, the girl looked at her and said just what I wanted! Now the sadness turned to confusion, because she was in Africa. Then the explanation came, her father owned a fishing boat and she worked on it. Every day they would go out and she would be so cold and her hands would be freezing, but now she would be warm and able to work better and faster. Only God could have known that the box that originated in the US would be needed in Africa of all places. That girl felt the touch of love from people she didn’t know who showed her the love of Jesus.
Every year as a drop off place we give a small gift to remind the giver of the impact they are making with their gift of love and kindness. This year we are giving them an old fashioned skeleton key to remind them they are a key to a child finding Jesus and His love for them. When we touch another persons life with the love and kindness of Jesus, we are a key to them coming to know Him as their Savior and Lord. This holiday season, pray for God to provide opportunities for you to be the key to someone finding Jesus and the new life He has promised.
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