I LOVE THIS IDEA FOR A NEW TRADITION!
I had the pleasure of reviewing the book The Sparkle Box by Jill Hardie and published by Ideals Books Publishing. The story is about a young boy named Sam who is excited about Christmas and is planning out his Christmas list and thinking about holiday parties but is intrigued by the sparkly box on their mantel. Over the Christmas season, Sam and his family perform various acts of kindness and service and each time they do a slip of paper with that activity written on it is placed in to the box, but Sam doesn't know this. On Christmas morning, Sam finally gets to open the box and finds all the paper slips of the kind activities listed on them. His mom explains to him that all of the good deeds they had been doing during the Christmas season were their gifts to Jesus. The Sparkle Box is filled with all the things they had done for others, which Jesus has said is also done onto him.
I thought this is a great way to help remember the reason for the season. Since I have already read the book to my kids, they know we will be filling up the box with our kind deeds. There are many things we do during the holiday season that are acts of kindness, but I love that we are presenting them as a gift to Jesus and can review on Christmas Day all those kind acts we have performed.
We do operation christmas child every year- one box per child and that would go in there. We are also looking for other ways to serve in the community.
ReplyDeleteJanna
Petenjanna@yahoo.com
We always leave presents, food and a gift card for a family we know in need...ring the door bell and run :) This is a super cute book and idea!
ReplyDeleteLike Janna we also will do Operation Christmas Child; we also do coats & mittens or hats to the clothing drives & hopefully something new this year.
ReplyDeletewe have a community service project once a week-- Our family this year serves and works the Soup kitchen at the church in our community--Its a good project to learn from
ReplyDeleteA pair of shoes!
ReplyDeletegive gift card to single moms
ReplyDeleteWe always buy gifts for families in need.
ReplyDeleteDonating toys is my favorite thing to do.
ReplyDeletesiobhantwohig86 at gmail
We do Operation Christmas Child, so I'd put something about that in there.
ReplyDeleteEach of my kids fill boxes for Operation Christmas Child every year. I love the idea of this book. I think it will encourage my kids to think of other ways to bless people!
ReplyDeleteslkhall@ yahoo.com
My family and co-workers donate to our local urban mission and toys for tots every year.
ReplyDeleteAdopting children of prisoners through the angel tree program to buy gifts for from their incarcerated mom or dad.
ReplyDeleteWe do Operation Christmas Child boxes each year, and we also donate to the Compassion Christmas fund to provide gifts for our sponsored children.
ReplyDeleteWe always donate toys.
ReplyDeleteOne thing we do is Operation Christmas Child.
ReplyDeletewe raise money to send kids to school in africa
ReplyDeleteWe our doing our own Operation Christmas Child box as well as donating a bag of items to school who will be assembling boxes.
ReplyDeleteWe are going a box for Operation Christmas Child as well as donating a bag of items to the school who will be assembling boxes.
ReplyDeleteWe our doing our own Operation Christmas Child box as well as donating a bag of items to school who will be assembling boxes.
ReplyDeleteWe are making Operation Christmas Child boxes and we will donate hats, socks, and gloves to the homeless shelter that my husband works at.
ReplyDeleteId say some of my stockpile of hygiene products
ReplyDeletesunniewoodyplus2 atmsn.com
I would make treats for my neighbors.
ReplyDeleteDonate toys to less fortunate children. ~ Angie PreciselyMine
ReplyDeleteMake goodies to give out to neighbors, friends, and people at church. Thanks for the chance!
ReplyDeleteDonate my son's outgrown clothing to a women & children's shelter
ReplyDeletePresents!
ReplyDeleteWe always do the secret Santa at church for kids in need
ReplyDeleteWe do so many...Our church adopts 2 families, we do the operation child every year, donate unwanted blankets and coats, and donate food to the food banks
ReplyDeleteWe will visit the nursing home and spread joy to the elderly this Christmas season.
ReplyDeleteWe visit the nursing home and Operation Christmas Child every year.
ReplyDeleteOperation Christmas Child is one of my favorite things to participate in!
ReplyDeleteWe invite others over for all holidays that have no place to go. Cantonbrandy@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteThe Giving Tree, to buy a gift for a local child in need, and Operation Christmas Child Shoebox, to provide a gift for a child in a faraway land!
ReplyDelete:) Rhea Stogsdill Chladek
We choose several angels from the Angel Tree at our church, stuff boxes for Operation Christmas child
ReplyDeleteWe choose several angels from the Angel Tree at our church. We also stuff several boxes for Operation Christmas child
ReplyDeleteWe will be helping at the animal shelter and will be helping at a soup kitchen.
ReplyDeleteWe will be donating food and gifts to our neighborhood center to be distrubuted to those in need :)
ReplyDeleteWe will send a box to a needy child via Operation Christmas Child. My kids get so excited about this!
ReplyDeleteEvery Christmas we always buy gifts for a family in need through our church. We also participate in March of Dimes walks in addition to other great causes.
ReplyDeleteAngel tree program
ReplyDeletewe do angel tree and purchase gift cards to restuarants to give to homeless for meals.
ReplyDeleteWe do the angle tree..I am excited because my daughter is two and will understand more about doing this.
ReplyDeleteWe do the angle tree..I am excited because my daughter is two and will understand more about doing this.
ReplyDeleteWe adopt a family for christmas.
ReplyDeleteyellowturtle123 @ yahoo
We donate to Toys for Tots and also find someone local to help on 2hands.org!
ReplyDeleteWe leave little gifts on elderly persons doors that we know are having a hard time. Usually hubby and i forgo gifts and divide that money up to gift cards to the pharmacy or grocery store.
ReplyDeleteno kids yet - but this would be a great tradition to start in our home.
ReplyDeleteBuying a Christmas gift for a needy child, kids making cards for sick people, serving others as opportunities for it come up
ReplyDelete