The Power of a Shoebox

11/10/2024

Photo by Katherine Conrad on Unsplash

As Christmas is just around the corner, The Shoebox program called Operation Christmas Child is in full swing once again.

As per usual our church has been busy collecting boxes and items for this wonderful program sponsored by the organization called, Samaritan’s Purse.

I often imagine the kids who will be on the receiving end of these boxes full of treasures, and it always makes me smile. Thinking that this may be the one and only gift these kids will ever receive in their lifetimes, is really hard to fathom.

In our society it is not uncommon close to Christmas to see our own Christmas trees at home overflowing with gifts all around it. So many of us are so blessed.

For many of us, we do not really need anything at all, yet are still fortunate to have gifts under the tree, year after year with our names on them.

Photo by Valeria Boltneva on Pexels

Our family has been packing boxes for twenty five years. It is a beautiful tradition and believe me we try to cram as much as possible into each and every shoebox.

I remember the first year we got involved with this wonderful experience vividly. My daughter Shannon was only one at the time, but three-year-old Tyler was delighted to accompany us on our trip to fill the boxes.

He had a grand old time at the Dollarama with us. On a mission, he carried a basket around with so much glee and enthusiasm. As I had explained what we were doing, he was perfectly delighted to find lots of great treats and treasures that filled his basket to the absolute brim.

To my surprise never once did he ask for things for himself. This was shocking and surprising to me as he was only three. No matter how loaded the basket got, he insisted on carrying it all by himself which was both commendable and sweet.

When we were finally ready to check out though, he really struggled to lift his heavy basket onto the checkout counter. This caught the attention of an older lady. In fact she had been curiously observing us for quite some time.

As we went to the check-out she very sarcastically said “My, aren’t WE a lucky boy!” Without missing a beat, Tyler completely put that woman in. her. place. saying, “Look lady! These things aren’t for me. They are for the poor children!” The lady, now red in the face, quickly apologized and immediately left the store.

This is a moment I will always remember and it does make me chuckle. It is hard to forget when a three-year-old, brings a busybody down to size. I’d say you’ve been told lady and a three-year-old gets it better than you.

Photo by Jess Bailey on Unsplash

It is incredible how this program has helped people look beyond their own experiences. I have seen very poor families come in with boxes and items and I know what a great sacrifice that must have been for them.

I have heard of others who instead of buying for each other, pack a box. Other folks host parties where they all bring items and pack boxes as a group. This experience has really brought people together as they strive to show God’s love in practical ways throughout the holiday season.

My students in the past have brought in items and helped me pack boxes as well. It really gave them an opportunity to understand how blessed we are in Canada and how giving to others is so very important.

Photo by Preslie Hirsch on Unsplash

I watched a video on Facebook of children receiving their boxes from Operation Christmas Child and was so touched with the indescribable joy that they showed when the boxes were placed in their hands.

What really blew me away was one boy was dancing, high fiving his friends and jumping for joy without even opening the box yet.

How many of us would show that level of appreciation before we even unwrapped a gift? Not many I am afraid to say. If anything, we MAY show a smaller version of this after the paper has been shredded, but definitely not before. This is an interesting thing to ponder.

You see, the excitement was felt at first in the mere gesture of receiving a gift, and the opening of the gift was really an added bonus. Wow! That short video was very humbling for me, as it showed extreme gratitude in its purest form.

I wonder, when have I ever been THAT grateful? It is hard to articulate. Perhaps when I was a child and I received that much hoped for toy?

I do remember when Cabbage Patch dolls were all the rage and I wanted one so desperately. Unfortunately if you were able to get ANY Cabbage Patch doll at that time, you were extremely lucky because they were always in short supply.

By some miracle though, my parents actually got one and surprised me with it for my birthday. Understandably upon receiving it I was beside myself. I could not comprehend that they had found one. They were THAT hard to buy! From that moment on Raymond Fred and I lived happily ever after and to this day he is a doll I still cherish. My parents had such joy giving him to me too. It was very sweet to witness them grinning from ear to ear as I did the dance of joy with him.

So why does it change and getting gifts has become so commonplace for us? We don’t have to wonder IF we will get something, but instead wonder WHAT we will get.

This Christmas, let’s not forget about those who are less fortunate. Let’s reflect upon the types of kids who are a part of the shoebox program. Let’s learn from their example and be truly grateful for all we have. Their thankful hearts and appreciation are absolutely inspiring and we can certainly learn much from them.

If you are interested in Operational Christmas Child or the great work of Samaritan’s Purse here is the link.

Until next time,
Dana

1 Thessalonians 5:18 ~ Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Little Lesson Learned: An expression of extreme gratitude is at times a rare occurrence. Let’s be mindful of all we have this holiday season and beyond.

Tags: giving gifts, less fortunate, missions, Operation Christmas Child, Samaritans purse, shoebox program, Christmas

Author

Dana Romualdi is a Canadian elementary teacher, blogger, author, and speaker. Dana desires to "love God and love people" whole heartedly. She has a passion for helping others and spreading much needed encouragement. Dana lives in Canada with her husband and two grown children. When she is not working in the classroom or blogging, she enjoys drinking coffee, watching Netflix and reading great books.

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Joy in the Camp: Part 2 of the Joy Series

2/3/2024

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“Joy: the kind of happiness that doesn’t depend on what happens.” ~ David Steindl – Rast Check out part one in this series:
Where Joy Lives here! where-joy-lives.html

Photo by Count Chris on Unsplash

Joy. A small word but a HUGE need for all of us. Joy truly looks different for everyone, but it is something we honestly can’t live without. Several years ago, I was employed by the Salvation Army as the coordinator of their addictions program. Many people would come to us discouraged and downtrodden, burdened with poverty, heartaches and addiction struggles. Our team would do our best to send a little joy their way, giving them help in a tangible way. Whether it was in the form of a warm meal, a listening ear, a referral to a next step program or some much needed food to fill their pantry, we did our best to meet their needs. I recall at that time, despite my quest to lift others’ spirits, I was going through a very hard time of my own. My spirits were at an all-time low. My husband and I, were desperate to start a family, yet had so far only experienced roadblocks and heartbreaks in that department. I remember so vividly when we FINALLY confirmed that our son Tyler was on the way, I could hardly contain my excitement. I had confided my heart’s desire to my amazing boss. He was such a compassionate and godly man and reminded me so much of my dad. He agreed to pray for us daily that our miracle would come. When the day finally came, I raced into his office with my incredible news to share. Teary eyed and speechless, he grabbed a set of old, well-used Salvation Army bells on his desk and started shaking them with unbridled enthusiasm. He then proudly said “Forgive me but, when I don’t know what to say and my heart is so, so full, I just have to let the joy bells ring.” It was such a cute memory and such a special moment between the two of us.

A Joyful Camp

My mom decided to start a mentorship program for young girls several years ago, and sometimes Tyler was invited on special occasions as well as you can see in this picture. The group was for a select handpicked bunch of girls who were very special to her, including my daughter, my little cousins, and daughters of very special friends who felt like family. She affectionally named this group, yes, you guessed it the “Joy Belles.” The goals of this noteworthy little group were two-fold: to offer mentorship and spiritual guidance in a fun atmosphere and to help the girls impact our local community in a positive way. Under my mom’s direction, the girls went many places and completed little meaningful projects together like participating in such things as community and beach cleanups. My mom went out of her way to make these events fun and purposeful, and the Joy Belles so looked forward to these memorable times every few months.

One very memorable Joy Belle event was what my mom creatively named “Camp I – Wanna – Jump – For- Joy.” It was to be the mother of all Joy Belle events, as my mom had pulled out all the stops. This time she had planned an entire weekend of fun, food and fellowship. Step by step, mom’s home and backyard had been lovingly transformed into a summer camp setting, complete with crafts, a tuck shop, cool games, tents, swimming and special activities. Mom enlisted my help with this one, and truth be told, I was thrilled to oblige. I adored my Mom and would do anything for her! Many tents were borrowed to make the event a success, and the girls were giddy with excitement and anticipation. Well, all was well, that is until sleep time. Mom and I couldn’t stop laughing when all the little girls, due to let's say three bugs, some odd noises, and a sprinkling of homesickness refused to sleep in any of the tents. Hello Plan B! We hunkered down sleepover style in our sleeping bags, enjoyed some great pizza and popcorn and giggled until our stomachs ached. Not quite as we had planned, but a great time, nonetheless. Incidentally at Mom's funeral it was very precious to see so many Joy Belles return and pay tribute to the woman they loved so much and had brought them so much joy.

The Joy Belles Today (I love these girls so much!)

Plan B

Life is often like what those little girls experienced in their tents that night. We have such high expectations. We feel our lives are going to go a certain way. We are excited. We are pumped and BOOM, life happens, and nothing is as we thought. Like the Joy Belles we abandon our tents and run for cover, feeling like our joy is lost. But wait! This is not how the story ends! In these times of disappointment, do not lose heart. Joy can still be found in Plan B. Keep an open mind and believe that implementing Plan B in your life can be a wonderful thing. Plan B sometimes even ends up being the best plan of all. It is the one you didn’t really see coming, but surprisingly, just what you needed all the while.

Keeping Joy In Your Camp

Photo by Fernando Andrade on Unsplash

So how do you keep joy in your camp when things go astray? First, focus on what you do have rather than what you don’t. Make a gratitude list and list things big and small that make you feel blessed each day. There really is so much we often take for granted. Make sure you embrace flexibility and have a good attitude. Find joy in the little things and take the time to really enjoy them.

During the pandemic on Pizza Days and other food days my students had to eat in shifts in the classroom, in an effort to minimize large groups without masks. This left at least half the class masked at any given time. One Pizza Day a little girl was sobbing when I returned after lunch. She had been so excited that it was Pizza Day, so I just didn’t quite understand. She explained in tears. “I got my pizza, but I didn’t get to enjoy it!” I completely got what she was saying as she felt pressured by the time restraints and eating in shifts rule. Her statement resonated with me in a different way, however. She had still gotten her heart’s desire but had not really enjoyed it. There's a life lesson here for sure. That often happens to us. Sometimes circumstances are to blame, but sometimes it is us who are the problem. Maybe our attitude needs to change, or we just need to slow down and really live in the moment for once. Finding gratitude every day keeps a steady supply of joy streaming. Every day when we wake up we should have joy to be blessed with the gift of a new day, as many are not that fortunate.

Well, that is it for now my friend. I wish you "joy in your camp to the fullest!"

Until next time,
Dana

Romans 13:15 NIV
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Little Lesson Learned: Joy can be found in the most unexpected places. Don’t forget that.

P.S. : One more thing as well, always enjoy the pizza!! :)

Copyright © 2024 littlelessonslearnedbydana
(Dana Romualdi)
Dana Romualdi, the copyright holder reserves all rights to the content on the blog and website Little Lessons Learned by Dana, including the right to reproduce, distribute, and display the content. No content or photographs may be reproduced or modified. Blogs may be shared on social media platforms in their entirety only with full credit given to the owner. Any photographs used by other photographers are used with permission and are also protected. All Rights Reserved.

Tags: life lessons, joy, happiness, self improvement, spiritual guidance, growth mindset, encouragement, Christian blog, life advice, Christian blogger, spiritual growth, grief and loss, grief counseling, bereavement help, life skills

Author

Dana Romualdi is a Canadian elementary teacher, social worker, blogger, author, motivational speaker and recording artist. She has a passion for helping others and spreading much-needed encouragement. She lives in Canada with her husband and two grown children. When she is not working in the classroom or blogging, she enjoys drinking coffee, watching Netflix and reading great books.

Feel free to reach out to Dana
at: [email protected]

The joys of my life: Tyler and Shannon, now 25 and 28.

Click here for Where Joy Lives Part One in the Joy Series

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It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year?

12/8/2021

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Photo by Olesia Buyar on Unsplash

“Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy
and keep choosing it every day.”
~ Henri J.M. Nouwen

The Christmas season is upon us and once again it is hard to believe how fast the year has gone by. The hustle and bustle of the season can leave us with a variety of emotions ranging from excitement to complete exhaustion.

As a young girl I loved to watch the Christmas specials every year. Among the cherished favourites was A Charlie Brown’s Christmas, which my siblings and I watched with great pleasure as a special and cherished family tradition.

Christmas was always a happy time for me growing up. I came from a strong, Christian family who loved each other dearly and put Christ at the center of Christmas. Christmas and life in general were all that it should be in my corner of the world as I was very unfamiliar with anything different. Naively I assumed that most families had the same experience as I did. With this is mind, it is understandable how I could not identify with people who did not have the joy of the season.

I recall being very confused when Charlie Brown confides in Lucy that he is struggling with feelings of sadness over the holidays, yet to his dismay he can’t quite pinpoint the reason. As a child that seemed inconceivable to me that anyone, especially a child could be sad at Christmas. Fortunately for Charlie Brown he made it through the holidays. With the support of friends and getting engaged in holiday traditions such as being involved in a Christmas play; he eventually finds peace and joy over the holidays. Needless to say though, it was definitely a painful process for him.

As I got older, it made complete sense to me. I came to realize that many people in life are very much like Charlie Brown. He was not as exceptional as I had once imagined.

The holidays lose their magic as you age and others too have difficulty with the holiday season. For some depression and sadness linger over the holidays like a heavy cloak. They hear songs like It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year over the loud speaker and all they want to do is cry. For them this time of year is anything but wonderful and certainly not the “happiest season of all,” as the song states.

Many people have deep sorrow and sadness in their lives throughout the year and the holidays can only accentuate that further in many cases.

Some have lost loved ones and their painful absence at a family get-together can be almost unbearable. Where some may hope the Christmas season like magic can make all sadness disappear, this is realistically not the case.

Photo by Volodymyr Hryshchenko on Unsplash

In my work as a clinical social worker at the Salvation Army I heard many sad stories of lives torn apart from substance abuse, poverty, great loss, and family dysfunction. It was especially difficult at Christmas for many. With all their other problems, these people were often living below the poverty line, so purchasing gifts was extremely challenging.

This is where the joy of giving rather than receiving really took action. The Salvation Army provides food baskets and toys for needy families year after year and it was so exciting to be a part of that rewarding process. As I would hand out bags of toys to thankful parents it was extremely touching to see the gratitude and relief on their faces. They knew that their Christmas would be a bit brighter due a little help from a caring community.

The carol Joy to the World understandably comes to mind when pondering this season. The lyrics are “Joy to the world. The Lord is come. Let Heaven and nature sing. Let every heart prepare him room.” The last line really hits home. The concept of “let every heart prepare Him room” is very thought provoking.

This speaks of the need and desire we all have to experience true joy, yet we need to make room for the One who is the "true joy giver."

Individually the choice is ours.

I was taught in Sunday school that to have true joy (J-O-Y), it meant to have Jesus first (J) others next (O) and yourself last. (Y) This does seem like a winning formula, yet many have not discovered this yet. Each person needs to prepare Christ room in his or her heart, yet sadly many have not taken that important step. Hearts can be so full of other desires, dreams, and pursuits that people miss the true reason they were created.

We were created to love God and put Him first. It says in God’s word: Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33) The “all these things” that this verse is speaking of includes the joy that we all are seeking. When we have our priorities straight and Christ is at the center of our lives, He helps us each day to discover the joy we desire.

We were never promised a perfect life as Christ followers, but we were also never meant to live this life on our own. In each one of us there is a deep void that longs to be filled to make us whole, and healthy individuals. Too many people are living life on autopilot. Their lives have become routine, perhaps comfortable, yet sadly no passion remains. Too often people seek to fill that void with fleeting whims and fancies and their joy dissipates like a puff of smoke. Empty and frustrated, they wonder when their lives will change. The Bible says that Christ came as a baby at Christmas to lead us to a life that is abundant and full, not stressful, and meaningless.

Photo by Preslie Hirsch on Unsplash

Are there any Charlie Brown’s out there?

Do you feel that there is joy everywhere else but in your corner of the world? Don’t despair. Happiness is a choice and with God by our sides, the burdens we carry become more bearable. This Christmas can be a real turning point for all of us if we allow it. As we choose to let Christ’s joy penetrate our lives, it spills out to others and changes us for the better.

Have you “prepared Him room” in your heart or perhaps you need to “prepare Him more room” in your heart?

These are questions only you can answer. Allowing Christ into your life and heart is the greatest Christmas gift you can give yourself. Preparing room for Him in your heart will put you on the path to the most joy filled and purposeful life you have ever known. The gift is just waiting for you! Won’t you open and receive it this Christmas?
~ Until next time,
Dana

Nehemiah 8:10 ~ Do not grieve for the joy of the Lord is your strength.

Little Lesson Learned: A relationship with Christ is the best gift you could give yourself this holiday season. If you have never received this gift, won’t you consider it?

Copyright © 2021 littlelessonslearnedbydana

Author

Dana Romualdi is a Canadian elementary teacher, social worker, blogger, and author. She has a passion for helping others and spreading much-needed encouragement. She lives in Canada with her husband and two grown children. When she is not working in the classroom or blogging, she enjoys drinking coffee, watching Netflix and reading great books.

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The Power of a Shoebox

Tags: giving gifts, less fortunate, missions, Operation Christmas Child, Samaritans purse, shoebox program, Christmas

Author

Joy in the Camp: Part 2 of the Joy Series

“Joy: the kind of happiness that doesn’t depend on what happens.” ~ David Steindl – Rast Check out part one in this series:
Where Joy Lives here! where-joy-lives.html

A Joyful Camp

The Joy Belles Today (I love these girls so much!)

Plan B

Keeping Joy In Your Camp

Tags: life lessons, joy, happiness, self improvement, spiritual guidance, growth mindset, encouragement, Christian blog, life advice, Christian blogger, spiritual growth, grief and loss, grief counseling, bereavement help, life skills

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It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year?

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The Power of a Shoebox

Tags: giving gifts, less fortunate, missions, Operation Christmas Child, Samaritans purse, shoebox program, Christmas

Author

Joy in the Camp: Part 2 of the Joy Series

“Joy: the kind of happiness that doesn’t depend on what happens.” ~ David Steindl – Rast Check out part one in this series: ​Where Joy Lives here! where-joy-lives.html

A Joyful Camp

The Joy Belles Today (I love these girls so much!)

Plan B

Keeping Joy In Your Camp

Tags: life lessons, joy, happiness, self improvement, spiritual guidance, growth mindset, encouragement, Christian blog, life advice, Christian blogger, spiritual growth, grief and loss, grief counseling, bereavement help, life skills

Author

It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year?

Author

Categories

Archives

“Joy: the kind of happiness that doesn’t depend on what happens.” ~ David Steindl – Rast Check out part one in this series:
Where Joy Lives here! where-joy-lives.html