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The holidays, believe it or not, are right around the corner! Next week starts the holiday buying season. Buying Christmas cards to mail to friends and family, buying gifts to show all of your loved ones how much you care, and buying food to share with friends and family to celebrate the season. With all of the hustle and bustle of the season, is there really any time to sit back and think about the TRUE meaning of Christmas? What do you think about?
I can tell you personally that the holidays are so busy for me with travel, shopping, cleaning, cooking, baking, wrapping presents, parties and visiting with family and friends that the true meaning of Christmas is sometimes lost on me until the 26th of December. The day after Christmas it seems the busy season slows down a bit. Sometimes I reflect on the 26th and think “Wow! Did I even think about anyone who is not as fortunate as I am? or Jesus even?” Yes, I went to Christmas mass, but did I hear the real message? Most likely not. I was busy thinking about the festivities that lie ahead, right after mass and whether or not everyone is going to like what I got them for a gift. This year, things are going to be different… somewhat, thanks to The Sparkle Book Christmas book by Jill Hardie. When I was originally asked to do the review for “The Sparkle Book”, I wasn’t too thrilled to do a book review, not realizing that I was in for a soul searching experience. “The Sparkle Box” Christmas book is a heartwarming story of a family that was given the opportunity to feel the true meaning of Christmas.
The book starts off when Sam’s mom puts an empty sparkly looking box on the fireplace mantle through the holiday season. Mom and dad fill the box throughout the days leading up to Christmas. Sam is left wondering each day what the box contains. As mom and dad add to the box, Sam gets more and more anxious to see what is inside. On Christmas day, the sparkle box is finally opened and Sam gets to do the honors. What he finds inside is a true gift. To Sam’s delight, he opens the box and finds pieces of paper with ALL of the good deeds that the family has done during this holiday season. The contents of the sparkle box are all gifts for Jesus. One of the best things about the book is that on the back inside cover, there is an envelope and inside is your very own sparkle box. Since I have read the book to my family, each member of our family love the idea of having a gift for Jesus. The children don’t know which of their good deeds will go into the sparkle box, but they have come up with some really good ideas as to what Jesus might want from them. It is refreshing to watch my children do good deeds for one another, as well as for strangers, and not know that I am watching so that I can put that deed in the sparkle box. I hope that when they open their sparkle box that they are as proud of themselves as I am of them and their good deeds. So I ask of you….what will you put in your sparkle box?
Stay Connected:
- Visit The Sparkle Box Website
- Visit The Sparkle Box on Facebook
Giveaway:CLOSED
THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED: WINNER KIM BURNETT
One reader will receive The Sparkle Box Book {RV $20}. See form for Entry Details. Open to U.S residents. You must be 18 years old to enter to win. Ends 11.28.13.
All entries will be verified. Only one entrant per mailing address per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you will not be eligible to win it again. The winner will be chosen randomly through Giveaway Tools and contacted via email. A reply to the winning email is required within 24 hours before a new winner is chosen. One person entering per household please. U.S. only. This giveaway ends at 11:59 PM EST on Nov 28, 2013.
Disclosure: The Review Wire is not responsible for shipment of prize. I was provided with product for this review. All views and opinions with regard to The Sparkle Box or the company are my own and were not influenced by the company.
by paying it forward
Each year we adopt 3 families from the Angel Tree and use money we have saved to buy the presents and a tree. We also work at the Homeless shelter serving meals.
We donate each yr as well as do toys for tots
We do shoeboxes for Samaritan’s Purse.
We donate to Toys for Tots each year
We donate gifts to the churches and my children also go through their belongings and pick out ten items each to donate to other children who need.
I give back by putting money in the red kettle, and donating to Toys for Tots.
I give back by being a Hospice Volunteer.
I take my son to church. I let him know the real meaning of Jesus!
We do Operation Christmas Child and I hope to do more.
Our family adopts a family in need each year. It might be someone in our family or in our circle of friends. We send them gift cards or money to help them. Last year, was a single Dad who is raising 3 kids and the youngest is fighting cancer. We gave him $300 worth of gas, grocery, and fast food gift cards.
I give to charities clothing and household goods as much as twice a year.
By donating to several local drives each year.
We love to read lots of Christmas book to our kiddos during the holiday. The true meaning of Christmas is really important to us. This looks like a great book.
I give back for the Holidays and even non Holidays by giving my Spare Change to the Salvation Army Bell ringers and I donate non perishable food item to the food bank.
I donate to Toys for Tots every year. I also donate food to the food pantry here.
I donate to salvation army and toys for tots.
we donate toys to children every year!
I always donate toys to the local Salvation Army during the holidays.
We always donate toys for children.
I crochet and will donate hats to people who needs them
We have always emphasized the importance of Christmas by keeping Christ in it. We love the fun traditions like Santa and presents but our true focus is helping those around us, loving one another and remembering the real reason for celebration.
We always go to Christmas Eve services. In years past I have always bought gifts for a needy child. This year, due to illness, I am not able to do this. This year I am grateful to my grown children who support me in every way.
We do a lot of family things together to celebrate!
We tell the kids that Christmas isn’t about santa and gifts, but the birth of Jesus.
We volunteered our times and also donate and wrapped gifts for toys for tots