CrazyBusy Mama! (Dot Calm)

I once heard someone say — and I’m paraphrasing — that if you don’t give money when you have little, you won’t give money when you have a lot. Real giving is usually a sacrifice, meaning it costs us something. But it’s also rewarding, as we reap dividends of joy and the satisfaction that we have helped others in need. Read on to learn about something you can do — something you must do — to help others who desperately need it right now.

This Christmas season has gotten off to a sad start. Last Sunday in Lakewood, Washington, less than two hours from where I live, four

police officers were murdered by a gun-wielding maniac. My heart is still breaking for these officers and for their families, who are left to face this Christmas — and the rest of their lives — without them. No one can make this go away for these families; no one can bring their loved ones back. But we can show them they are loved and thought of, and that their mother, fathers, wife, and husbands will never be forgotten, and we can do that by donating to a couple of funds set up just for that purpose.

The first I’d like to let you know about has been set up by the Lakewood Police Independent Guild, or www.lpig.us. Once you open the page, you’ll see the “Donate Here” button in the middle of the screen. After donating, be sure to scroll down and read the posts, especially the one called “Stories of Our Fallen,” by Guild President Brian Wurts. You’ll be touched, and you’ll feel like you knew them, too — or at least deeply wish you had.

The other you may contribute to by going into any Bank of America in the United States and telling them it’s for the “Fallen Lakewood Officers Fund.”

Read about other funds set up for the families of the officers — and a warning about scammers taking advantage of this horrible situation — by reading this article at KOMO News.

Thanks so much for helping out.

It’s that time of year again! The leaves are turning, there’s a nip in the air, Starbuck’s is serving their Pumpkin Spice lattes, and the stores will be bringing in their Christmas decorations and merchandise before Halloween even has a chance to be a spooky memory. And, in many locations around the world, children from kneecap height through age 14 are anxiously awaiting the arrival of shoeboxes.

Shoeboxes??

Absolutely! Every year, Operation Christmas Child, a ministry of Samaritan’s Purse (headed by Franklin Graham), delivers shoebox gifts to children in impoverished or disaster-stricken areas around the world. Hundreds of thousands of people — just like you and me — wrap these shoeboxes (lid and box separately) in Christmas paper, fill them with appropriate gifts (see How to Pack a Shoebox), slip a rubber band around each box (with lid on), and take them to a local OCC drop-off site.

What’s the best part for me and my kids? Trying to imagine just who will be getting our boxes, praying for those children, and hoping the gifts will be a really bright spot in the midst of their troubles. On a personal level, I enjoy knowing that many of these kids and their families will really hear about Jesus for the first time through this ministry of Samaritan’s Purse.

You’ve probably heard of Operation Christmas Child, but if not, take a look at their site. Better yet, take part with your family, get a group of your friends involved, or take it to the next level and get your church or neighborhood in on this. Have fun with it — put together a shoebox gift, or two (or three…or twenty).

Shoeboxes will be collected at the drop-off locations November 16-23 this year, so now’s a great time to start putting them together!

It’s one of the best hands-on opportunities out there to teach your kids how to give. And in doing so, they’ll be taking the first step to living a life of showing compassion to others.

Click here to read about recording artist Matthew West’s experience giving shoebox gifts to some really great kids in Columbia. Check out some of Matthew’s music here.

©2009 Sally Dinius (except pictures)
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