A Simple Gift
Sunday, November 04, 2007
I went shopping at Target to buy gifts for Operation Christmas Child. I did not want to go. It was a Saturday morning, and I wanted to veg at home before prayer meeting. Why was it so hard? First, it was weird to think about what a child in a third world country might want. The website suggests many practical items like school supplies in addition to purely fun items like candy. Then, it was hard to plunk down the money for things that I would not get to enjoy.
I realized, Man. I am really selfish. I had to force myself to find enough stuff to fill a shoebox.
I planned to make two boxes, which I unconsciously decided would be for girls ages 5-9. I looked hard for items on sale. I ended up getting two each of shirts, purses, jewelry, sunglasses, stuffed animals, and bags of candy. I also plan to put toothbrushes and pens/pencils that I already own. The stuff from Target cost $30. I used a gift card I got for my birthday.
So in the end it didn’t even cost me anything. I got a free lesson in the discipline of giving. Quite unexpected.