Now that we are full-force into the holiday season, A - like most children - has a serious case of the wants. If I tallied up all the toys and games that he has said that he wants, the number would probably shock me. I have to watch the mail and newspaper carefully so that he doesn't seize any more toy ads and add to his list!
One of the lessons that we want to teach him as he grows is that not everyone is as fortunate as we are, and that we should share some of our good fortune. I decided that this year we would participate in Operation Christmas Child, which sends gift-filled shoe boxes to children throughout the world. While I am not wild about the second part of their activities, the evangelizing, at least they are doing something tangible for these children.
We decided to pack a box for a boy in the same age range as A. We went to our local Walgreens on Sunday afternoon and had a great time choosing items for our box: crayons, colored pencils, drawing pad, stuffed animal, Hot Wheels, flashlight, mini Etch-a-Sketch, a ball, toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, hard candy...and a few other items that I certainly forgot. All three of us enjoyed shopping and I liked seeing A pick up an item and say "I think he would like this." Of course, we had to occasionally pry an extra toy out of A's hands, but all in all, he got into the spirit of giving to someone else.
The real challenge came when we got home and tried to fit everything into the box! J did a great time of arranging and rearranging, and managed to get everything except one small ball into the box. A and I will drop off the box next week at one of the collection locations - I want for A to have the experience of carrying the box in and seeing it with the other boxes.
Compassion and generosity are not easy lessons to teach, but we are trying.
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