Love for the Lacking

Good afternoon, readers! How’s your week going? So far, mine’s going great, and I’m counting down the days till Winter Break and Christmas. Everyone we know is looking forward to many days off!

Yup, the Christmas season is closing in, and we’re all excited to be putting up decorations, buying presents, getting presents, snuggling up in the warmth of our house maybe with hot cocoa and a good book, and I am, too! But, what about the people who are less fortunate? The people who are lacking certain, necessary things?

To us, getting a granola bar, or buying a tube of toothpaste is whatever. I mean, hello, we have a computer or a phone we’re reading this post on 🙂 😛 But to the people out in the intersections who are holding up signs, asking for money, those things are rare. Not everyone, maybe a couple cars a day, will give them something.

This year, instead of a gift exchange like we usually do, my family, plus my uncles, aunts, and cousin, are packing Blessing Bags, ziploc baggies filled with things like granola bars, toothpaste, soap, fruit snacks, socks, chapstick, and little things like that to hand out to the homeless people in the streets who are spending Christmas out in the cold weather, wondering if anyone will notice them.

This Christmas, maybe you can be the person who notices them, the person they remember, by packing Blessing Bags and giving them to people who need them. Here’s a list of things that you can pack in there:

Food:

• Granola Bars
• Fruit Snacks
• Beef Jerky
• Nuts (although there is a chance they might be allergic)
• Chocolate
• Applesauce (but pack a spoon 🙂 )
• Candy (individually wrapped)
• Chewing Gum
• Restaurant/Fast-Food/Cafe Gift Card

Toiletries/Skin Care/Hair Care etc.:

• Toothbrush + Toothpaste
• Floss
• Hand/Face Wipes
• Tissues
• Chapstick
• Lotion
• Comb
• Shampoo
• Mouthwash
• Hand Sanitizer

Survival:

• First Aid Kit
  • Bandages (maybe of different sizes)
  • Antibiotic Ointment
  • Scissors
  • Tweezers
  • Nail Clipper
• Flashlight
• Water Bottle (Disposable or Nondisposable)

Clothing/Accessories:

• Socks
• Gloves
• Hat
• Scarf

Hope:

• Bible Verse
• Note of Encouragement
• Resource Sheets (keep reading to find out what I mean)

That’s a basic list of suggestions of what to put inside of a Blessing Bag. You probably won’t be able to fit everything in there, but just taking at least one or two things from each section and packing into a gallon ziploc bag, keeping it in the car, and handing them out to homeless or unfortunate people on the street, can change a life.

Oh, and just a little precaution – Fraganced items such as lotion and soap can cause the taste of food to alter, so I advise separating them in different baggies inside of the one, big bag. 🙂 Easy peasy!

Also, have fun with it! Invite friends and family to do it with you! Make lots and lots and keep them in many different cars, so that wherever your fellow blessers go, they’ll spread the hope, joy, and love of Christmas to all the people around them.

Just one more thing – Blessing Bags are not just a Christmas thing! Pack them in the spring, summer, or the fall! Although in the summer you might want to swap the gloves, scarves, and winter hats for sunscreen and baseball caps.

Now just some tips for when you deliver them:

• Smile and make eye contact; This person gets ignored and unnoticed by plenty of people. By smiling and looking them in the eye, it makes them feel important. Like they really matter.
• Be open to conversation. If the person is near a parking lot, consider parking your car and giving it to them. Some people might be sensitive, but always approach them with a smile and be a well they can pour into and draw out of.
• Offer directions. Make sure that they know where shelter, food, and other helpful resources are before you leave. Consider printing out a sheet of information (ding ding ding! Resource Sheets! 😀 ) and tucking them into the Blessing Bags.
• Last, but certainly not least of all, Pray! Bring this person one step closer to Jesus by asking if they want you to pray for them. They might not want you to pray for them, or maybe you feel a little uncomfortable about that. If that’s the case, don’t just give them the Blessing Bag with a smile and walk away. Pray for them on your own. A little prayer goes a long way.

I hope you guys decide to make Blessing Bags this year! Give a present to a person who doesn’t usually receive them. Give hope to the homeless. Give love to the lacking.

Thanks for reading this post 🙂 Have a wonderful week, everyone!

Till next time ~

Lydia

 

 

 

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