I packed an Operation Christmas Child Box back when I was in high school and loved it. Each year since then I have intended to pack one with my family and bless a child on the other side of the globe. Unfortunately, November always blows past us and I miss the OCC drop off week. Why do I always wait until December to start thinking about this stuff? 

But not this year! My older twins are almost three and Jason and I have been talking a lot lately about how we can make sure to really focus on Christ this holiday season since this is their first Christmas understanding what is going on. So we jumped on this early and packed an Operation Christmas Child box together!

We packed a box for a 2-4 year old boy and shared with our boys what it was for. At first, they thought the toys were for them, but as we’ve explained to them, they started to get excited that we are sending these toys to another little boy to bless him this Christmas. I’m not sure how fully the lesson sunk in, but I know that over the years this pattern will have a profound impact on them.

Pack a Shoe Box This November

OCC’s National Shoebox Collection is November 16-23, 2015. (That’s THIS week folks!!)

I wanted to let you know this, so you don’t miss out (if your family is anything like ours)! We’ve been on a strict budget this year and our boys are getting a few special toys for Christmas, that’s it! We are not spending hundreds on Christmas this year. And so, shopping for a few special toys for a boy halfway around the world felt so important this year.

It was a blessing for our entire family to focus on and remember what’s truly important this Christmas season. Not the presents, or the tree, or even the yummy food. But Christ.

Christ is our focus and our reason for celebrating. Packing an Operation Christmas Child shoe box felt like the perfect way to start off this season with our hearts in the right place. And packing a box this year took on a whole new meaning for me since I have kids of my own. I was getting all teary eyed packing a box thinking about a little boy somewhere getting it. So so powerful.

How to Pack Your Own Box:

• Operation Christmas Child uses shoebox gifts filled with toys, hygiene items and school supplies to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to children in need around the world.
• During this week, you can drop-off your packed shoeboxes at local drop-off sites open across all 50 states and Puerto Rico. (See all the drop off points here)
• Read the full instructions for packing your box on the OCC website.
• Remember: For many children, the gift-filled shoebox is the first gift they have ever received!!

Since 1993, Samaritan’s Purse has collected and delivered more than 124 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 150 countries and territories through Operation Christmas Child. In 2015, Operation Christmas Child hopes to collect enough shoebox gifts to reach another 11 million children. Will you help them reach that goal this year?

Now It’s Your Turn

So here’s my challenge to you this week: Don’t let another Christmas season go by! Plan to go out today (or tomorrow) and get a few gift to fill a shoe box. It doesn’t have to be a big investment, even $20 will do.

You can even “Follow Your Box” and get a tracking label that tells you where your shoebox gift is delivered! All you have to do is make your $7 shipping donation online. How neat to be able to see where you shoebox ends up.

Then share a picture on Instagram or Facebook and share that you packed a shoe box!! Use hashtags: #ipackedashoebox and #operationchristmaschild

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post by Operation Christmas Child. All opinions are 100% my own and I happily endorse Samaritan’s Purse. I’m glad to be able to help spread their ministry!