An Experience in Sharing

Although this blog is intended to focus primarily on biblical prophecy, I may throw in thoughts about my observations on the world or life experiences from time to time. I had an experience with my daughters and granddaughters (ages 6, 5, and 3) that really made me stop and think this Christmas season. We decided to make cookies and scripture bookmarks and make plates of cookies to take around to our neighbors in an effort to teach the girls about sharing God’s truth and His love with others. We both live in condos. The bookmarks were imprinted with the following scripture:

God showed how much he loved us by sending his only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love. It is not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.
1John 4:9-10

We stood back while one girl knocked on the door, another gave the plate of cookies and another gave the bookmark. When a knock was answered, they would say “Merry Christmas.” In almost every instance the first response of the person was a questioning look, sometimes followed by a remark that indicated they thought we were selling our gifts. We would have to assure them that we just wanted to brighten their day. Some insisted on gifting the girls something back, and after protesting, we allowed them to accept the gifts rather than continue arguing. It was a Wednesday, so the girls put the donated money in the offering boxes at church that night. The reaction of one woman who was probably in her early 30’s was especially touching. She thought we were selling something as we approached her entering her home. When the girls gave her the cookies, she said, “You mean they are just giving these to me?” She then followed with, “Did the girls make these cookies for me?” Again, we answered in the affirmative. She then followed with something like, “You just don’t know what this means to me. I can’t believe it.”

All in all it was quite an experience. As I reflected back on the day, it made me quite sad to realize that our society had gotten to the point that people are so disbelieving and overwhelmed to think that someone wants to just be nice to them. That really hit me as one of God’s children. It tells me that we as a church family are failing miserably at showing His love to those around us. I, for one, plan to bless my neighbors with more random acts of kindness in the coming year. That’s another thing—our neighbors are really strangers to us more often than not. I hope to get to know my neighbors a little bit this year so that the Lord can give me opportunities to share His love and His truth with them. I encourage you to do the same.