A Lesson I Learned from an 8 Year Old
In general, it seems as though most Americans have plenty of “stuff”.
In fact, we have so much stuff we need to use storage sheds to store all
our stuff. I confess that recently I purchased a second storage shed. I also
purchased different kinds of plastic storage boxes…so in actuality,
I had to get “stuff” to put my “stuff” in.
When is enough stuff… enough?
Unfortunately, the same holds true for gifts at holidays. It seems that we work hard to find the perfect gift to give someone who “has everything they need”. But, come this Christmas, I bet most of us will be running around to the malls to find that perfect gift.
Although most of us have what we truly “need”, we nonetheless like receiving gifts... even if we have to move other stuff into our shed to make room for it. Rather than this mentality of receiving gifts while the receiving is good, wouldn’t it be better to think of giving gifts to those who truly need it?
My first year on staff at the Mission I learned a valuable lesson from an 8 year old girl. Her mother called and asked if she and her daughter could come to the Mission to give us a gift. With anticipation and intrigue, I awaited meeting her to see what she wanted to give us.
First, she asked if I would take her around the Mission for a tour. When we got back to our starting point, she handed me a large envelope. Inside were checks made out to Gospel Rescue Mission.
The little girl shyly looked up to me and proclaimed, “It’s my birthday gifts. I asked all my friends I invited to my birthday party to make a donation to the Mission instead of giving me a gift. I have everything I need. So, I prayed and it seemed God wanted me to do this for the homeless people.”
As I’m typing this, I am again overwhelmed with tears…as I was that day. To think that an 8 year old “got it”…when many adults have no clue. She understood the blessings she had and that others had more need than she. How unusual… especially for an 8 year old.
Since then others have done the same thing this little girl did. The Mission often receives donations from people in lieu of gifts for a holiday, anniversary or birthday. What a blessing to see how much people really do care about the well being of others…enough to share their “stuff”.
Just last Christmas, the employees of Canyon Community Bank volunteered to help serve meals at our banquet. Not only did they give their time, but they presented us with a touching Christmas card. Enclosed in the card were checks from the bank employees themselves. Instead of purchasing gifts for each other, as was their standard procedure, they decided to donate the money to the Mission.
So instead of receiving more “stuff” yourself, please consider giving to others this holiday season (if you haven’t already). Whether you choose to bless those in a nursing home, a social service program, a youth program, the Gospel Rescue Mission, or some other favorite charity, there are those who have a real need to receive a loving gift.
Roy E. Tullgren
III serves as Director for Gospel
Rescue Mission.
Find out how you can get involved and make a difference by calling: (520)
740-1501.
© 2008 Good News Tucson™
