Operation Christmas Child

I had never heard of Operation Christmas Child before 2006. That year I had an infant and didn't get around to starting this tradition. But the next year, I was on it. A neighbor told me about it, and I loved the idea from the get-go. 

I had to Google it to find out exactly what we needed to do. I discovered that Samaritan's Purse, a Christian relief and evangelism organization, collected shoe boxes filled with gifts and delivered them to children around the world. 

That first year, and then again when the boys were old enough to participate, we always talked about our boxes before we began. I explained why we were buying gifts and putting them in a shoe box, and then Ida, John, and Asa would choose either a boy or a girl and an age range. Then we would head to Dollar Tree, Walmart, and/or Target to fill our boxes with small toys, school supplies, and personal hygiene items. 

That first year, only Ida and I went shopping. I remember being impressed, as well as surprised, that she didn't ask for anything for herself, and that continued throughout the years with all three children. Something about that shoe box brought out the best in them.

As they got older, they chose the age range that coincided with their age. They also included letters and cards in their boxes. And then, they began paying for all the gifts with their own money. So, not only were they blessing other children, but they were also being generous. For a few years, we had three boxes being sent out by Samaritan's Purse, then it went down to two, and this year we are at one. But it isn't the youngest who is filling a box, it's the middle child. It seems the older he gets, the more sentimental he becomes when it comes to traditions.

The sweet memories of three little Sorannos scouring the shelves to find the perfect surprises for their boxes still makes this mama's heart happy. And even better? I'll be going shopping with my nineteen-year-old later this week and keeping the tradition going for another year.