There hearts are so huge.  And thus their baskets were overflowing.

I couldn’t bear the thought of telling them no.  No, you can’t bless another child.  No, that costs too much.

We were at the Dollar Tree, after all.

Finding Fun Toys

Before we walked into the Dollar Tree, I gave them one rule.  Pick out toys and personal care products that YOU would use, that some little boy or girl would use — because the child who is given your box will be around your age.

And so they picked out what they thought were the coolest toys.

They were indeed fabulous toys.  The Dollar Tree truly impressed this mom.

For once, a small brief moment, my intense boys didn’t covet — or fight over a toy. Instead they envisioned how much fun another little boy would have with the purchased flashlight.  Hours of entertainment for a band of boys because we made sure to fill the box with extra batteries.

The candy?  What a blessing.  Asher, Ezra, and Gabe were over the top delighted to pick out the sweetest and tastiness confection.  Mostly because they NEVER have candy.  So their friend in another country should get the ultimate hook-up in rock candy.

The sweetest part is yet to come.

The letter.

Our packages are ready.

We are waiting for our church to open its altar for stacks of Operation Christmas Child donations. . . . that beautiful day when we pray over them and commission them to bless children all over the world.

But before that day comes, we will prepare a letter.  Sharing Christ.  Sharing how much the owner of the box is loved.  That they were made by a loving God for a purpose and part of a greater plan.  They are unique.  One of a kind. Special.

As a mom, I love watching my young men build these letters — more than how they cram their gifts into that plastic box.  It reveals their hearts.  I am allowed the opportunity to see God working in and through them.

Please note:   Operation Christmas Child boxes are more than JUST toys.  We also included toothpaste, soap, and other basic toiletries. (Refer to Samaritan’s Purse for a list of suggested items and how to pack your OCC box.)

Boxes can be dropped off the week of November 12-19, 2012.  Find a location near you.

To further engage your heart, please note that you have the opportunity to follow your box online to its destination.  You will need to print a special label.

This holiday season build a box with your family to teach kindness, compassion, and generosity.

Will You Be a Part of the Overflowing Fun?

BlogFrog will match the first 200 boxes that are built.  Pledge your commitment below to build a box today on Facebook or Twitter!

This is a (free) sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Operation Christmas Child. The opinions and text are all mine.

[optin-cat id=22967]