give.

I'm sharing, with permission, something that we should all be focused on this Christmas. Christmas has a different meaning than it did when I was a kid. I celebrate Christmas. The birth of Christ. As a follower of Christ, I have been commanded to serve as my Savior did. What better way to celebrate Christ's birthday than to do just that. As soon as I read this, I adopted a boy the same age as my son.


Acts 20:25 NIV "In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’"

The following was originally posted by Hollie Takes Notes. 

I'd been thinking about helping a family out for Christmas this year and playing Santa since September. Yes, I start thinking about Christmas EARLY! As it got closer to December, I kept thinking how I'd love to participate. Yet, I had a thousand and one reasons that kept me from actually doing something about it. It was on my to-do list. Honestly, if Jamie hadn't written a post on it herself about how EASY it is to give in this day and age I don't know if it would have gotten crossed off my list. Jamie passed on a link to a JC Penny program that lets you pick a child in need in your area, gives you a list of what they need, and what they are asking Santa for. They will also give you FREE shipping straight to the Salvation Army. All you need to do is use the address provided to you with your angel number that links to the kid you chose! They will email this to you after you pick a kid.

Not to mention, almost everything on JC Penny is ALREADY marked down. However, you don't have to use JC Penny. You can also purchase your gift elsewhere.

I've always loved kids. I was a big sister in the Big Brother Big Sister program in San Diego for a year. I would drive an hour away every Wednesday to hang out with my little sister for an hour. Okay, AND to beat kids in handball. Yes, they would line up to play me. Even the kids not in the program. And no, I didn't just let them win. I'm not that good of a person ;) My little sister came from a "disadvantaged" home. She was one of six kids, and her mom worked at Pizza Hut. I can't imagine trying to feed, clothe, and provide for six kids on that income.

My little sister inspired me to want to help more kids. After looking at the MANY kids in my zip code that needed a Christmas, I chose a five year old boy who was asking for a tent. Uh, what kid doesn't deserve a tent?! I was a tenter myself as a kid, so I picked him. I got him this sweet pimped out Disney Cars tent with a tunnel attached, some pj pants, and a fleece pullover for under $50. If you can't afford $50, that's okay. But if you can afford $25 and you're a thrifty shopper, imagine the smile you could put on some kids face. Even something small could be something huge to someone else. A smile that might not have been there on Christmas morning if it wasn't for you.

Even if you can't participate, spreading the word could lead to more kids being "adopted" because of you. That is help in itself! I was really passionate and excited about helping my little friend and somehow got EIGHT other kids adopted through friends and friends of friends. This may have been the greatest contribution back I've done this year. It feels good to know Christmas will be better for eight more kids. Kids don't understand why Santa didn't come if they were good...and hell, Santa came for me even when I was bad.

Think about it. That's all I ask. And maybe tell someone.

Interested in adopting an angel? Click HERE!