Our Families Christmas Jar Story (Will you start the Tradition in your family?)

Today's blog post is different from most of mine to this date.  I am sitting in my office today pondering who might the recipient of our family Christmas Jar this year.  What will this do for them and their family and will this tradition spread to people in their future.  Let me start from the beginning...

Three or four years ago, I was listening to Glenn Beck and he spoke about a Book titled "Christmas Jars".  I read this story myself and then proceded to read it to my wife and two girls.  You will have to read it for yourself, but we gathered the idea of filling a jar with change throughout the year and giving it to a needy family each year as a family.  We have done this now a few years and each year as the children get older they take more of an active role in selecting the recipient of our gift.  Last year we broke the $116 dollar amount and helped a local family on Christmas Eve.   

Each year after the Christmas Eve service at our church we

travel to the families house, park down the street and as a family we take the Jar to the door and drop it there.  We knock and run down the street to not be detected by the family.  The joy and excitement on our families faces is priceless and to listen as we choose who to bless with the product of the blessing God has given us.  

We can teach our children many things about life and love, but nothing comes close to teaching them with our actions of service and love for people we may not even know.  Even when our finances have not been the best we still give what we can as a testiment to the blessing we have received. Throughout the year our children are actively looking for who we can bless and trying to grow the amount in the jar by changing out coins for bills to fit more in.  

During this Christmas Season read this book with your family and get inspired to change someone's life with the blessing God has already provided for you.  Pennies, nickles, dimes, bills and even surprises we find create a cutlure more valuable that any amount of Gold you could mine.  

What are you gathering as a family to bless others personally this season?  Will you accept the challenge to read "Christmas Jars" and start a new tradition this year?  Don't wait to experience what so many in this country have forgotten, giving out of love is what makes the world better?  Go bless someone today!!!!