12 Days of Traditions...Day 6

Oh, we have a lot of traditions throughout the month of December---opportunities to point to Christ amidst the reading, baking, singing, and celebrating. But we also want to point to Him in our giving.

There is a large family in our church whose children traditionally sing, "What Can I Give Him?" at Christmastime. It warms my heart to hear their young voices ponder their gifts to the King...but it also causes me to ask the same of myself.

Several years ago, our family developed a plan for reaching out in love and encouragement to an unsuspecting family at Christmastime. I'm not going to go into the specifics of it because that's not the intent of this entry. I'll just say that this act of planning, praying, and giving has become one of our most treasured traditions. It's been used of God to teach us more about what He is like. And it's given our boys a very tangible way to consider the needs of others...and to act on those needs.

All around me, I've heard numerous stories of ways that friends are rallying around families in need. I've been stirred to hear how families as a whole are finding creative ways to lavish love and unexpected blessings on those who have very little. I've been challenged as I hear how hearts are looking outward, not asking, "What can I get?" but "What can I give?" Those gifts are reaping eternal dividends.

And so, as we celebrate Jesus' birthday, I pray that God continues to teach us to give as He does. And I pray this tradition continues to take root and grow in the hearts of our boys...and in their dad and me.