Every year our local YMCA  and our church collect shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child These boxes will go to children all across the world who would not be receiving a gift otherwise. These boxes are to be filled with toys and things for the child to do, along with any other item that may help the child.

Each year, I try to let my children pick what they want to put in their boxes. The way it works is that you start by choosing a boy or girl and then an age group. The ages are 2-4, 5-9, and 10-14. My girls like to pick within their own age group.

This year we packed Brita water filter bottles, crayons, coloring books, scratch paper, Lifesaver candies, gum, soap, floss, toothpaste, toothbrushes, combs, dolls, little trinket toys, little glitter crafts, and a few other odds and ends.

For the boy gift since it was 2-4, I got a Grover toy, Play-doh, ball, crayons, coloring books, paper, a toy dinosaur, a plush stuffed horse, Smarties, a recorder (the instrument, which I’m sure his parents will just LOVE), a toy car,  comb, toothpaste, toothbrush, floss, and a Brita filter bottle.

I like to pack these in a plastic box so the child can use it for a long time.

This year the children are going to track their boxes to see where they end up.

I really believe that showing love even in these small ways is the way we make the world a better place.

At a time when what we see around us looks far from what we wish it would be, I believe that love changes things. I hope that my children will look for ways to show love to people from all walks of life, from all areas of the world, in big and small ways, always.