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The King’s Christmas List

charity gifts

Last night the four of us snuggled on the couch with hot chocolate (chocolate milk in a sippy cup for Asa) and some catalogs. We were looking for Christmas gifts. Were the kids making their Christmas lists with Toys R Us catalogs? Nope. We had the Samaritan’s Purse and World Vision gift catalogs. We were picking out gifts for Jesus.

Asa picked out a goat. Only $75 from World Vision and it can give milk, cheese, yogurt, meat and even fertilizer for a family in an impoverished country. Asa couldn’t live without his “milkie” so we knew he’d like this gift best!

Lydia had me read every single entry. She was interested in every single one. She couldn’t decide what to pick so I asked her “If you were a little girl in another country who didn’t have a lot of food or clothes, what would you want?” I was trying to steer towards fruit trees or uniforms for school. But she chose bunnies! For just $80 you can send 5 bunnies that will produce over 100 babies in a year! Just think of the food and profit that will result from those 5 rabbits.

I chose blue plastic. Yup. 1000 square feet of blue plastic is $130 and it is enough to build a temporary shelter in Haiti. The first time I saw these “blue villages” I knew I had to help buy one. I could just imagine a mom like me who had no place to lay her kids down at night. What would that be like? Giving a house to a mom on Christmas? I can’t think of anything better.

My husband is deciding between farming help and stocking a pond with fish. Typical man gift, don’t ya’ think?

We prayed over our gifts and asked Jesus to accept them as gifts to him. And that he would make them miracles in someone’s life. I think this will be my most favorite activity this year!

chistmas book

We got the idea from a book called The King’s Christmas List by Eldon Johnson. It’s a sweet story of a little girl and her dog who are invited to The King’s Birthday party. On the way to the party, the little girl encounters several people who need help. She gives her own possessions to them and arrives empty handed to the King’s party. But just when she feels uncomfortable about it, she sees that all the guests start giving gifts to each other and not to the King.

The girl approaches the King and asks him why the guests are giving each other gifts. The King explains that the gifts He truly wants are the ones she had already given to those in need…

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

But the best part of the whole book is the end–the author encourages kids to redefine Christmas and start giving gifts to Jesus! He’s partnered with World Vision and blood:water to give to kids around the world—which really means giving to Jesus! You can even go to the King’s Christmas List website and click a big map to pick gifts for kids in those countries.

I wish I could explain how excited I am about this. We’ve always done only 3 gifts to the kids (in honor of the 3 Wise Men) but I would honestly love to do NO gifts on Christmas and just give gifts to Jesus instead. My kids don’t need another toy, book or shirt. But there are kids around the globe who need bunnies and goats and blue plastic to survive. I pray this small act will instill a love for others in my children—and most importantly a love for Jesus!

So, what would you give Jesus?

 

Comments

  9. alison says

    What a great idea! And as a mommy of a newborn (my second), I would choose several of the $9 donations to help feed hungry babies.

    can’t wait to check out the book and read it with my 3-year-old!

  10. Myra says

    I would choose to give clean water. I am always grateful when the rain comes and provides water for my garden and animals. Water seems so basic, but it is so necessary.

  11. Lindsey says

    after watching “depraved innocence” by eric ludy (it’s on my blog) my husband & I decided that we would send our money to help an exploited child…

    excited to check out the book — that’s exactly what we have been trying to teach our 3 year old twins this year!

    thanks 🙂

  19. Charisma says

    this year we also did samaritans purse and world vision for gifts for our family- we did 4 shoeboxes, bought chickens, gave money for a missionary doctor, and for supplies to needy in the US! I love this idea 🙂

  23. Sharalee Roberts says

    The gift I would give would be $35 dollars for $385 worth of medicine for Children! What an amazing post and wonderful project!
    I liked the post, joined “The Kings Christmas List” on Facebook and posted on Twitter. I already liked Impress your kids on Facebook! =)

  28. Jessica Lynette says

    What an incredible sounding book! I will have to look for it.

    I totally hear you on wanting to stop buying gifts for the kids and making it about giving gifts to Him… my boys {2 and 3yrs} and I just returned from a 5 week trip to West Africa… we got back this past Saturday and OH MY -the contrast between that country and this could not be any greater then at this season with all the commercialism going on here. So sad. And yet it is perfect timing for my kids – they GET that other kids don’t have much because we were just living amongst them. My kids played with old bicycle tires and grapefruits and empty bottles… just like the African kids did.

    • ohamanda says

      Oh my goodness!! Why were you in Africa? I’d love to hear the story! We’ve already purposed to take our kids to Africa when they are older–to visit our Compassion kids. I can’t wait!

  29. Rachel R. says

    Honestly, it’s hard to choose, and I wish I had LOTS of money to give! But if I could send *one* of the things in one of these catalogs, I would probably choose chickens.

  35. lwm says

    I have always liked the gift of farm animals because it is a gift that keeps on giving. I think my favorite would be a goat. They are fairly easy to care for & give much back in return.

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