The crowds asked, “What should we do?” John replied, “If you have two shirts, give one to the poor. If you have food, share it with those who are hungry.” [Luke 3:10-12 (NLT)]

There are two towns in our county that, while separated by only a few miles, are worlds apart. In one, a diner may pay as much as $17 for a simple tomato salad; in the other, the person who picked those tomatoes may well go to bed hungry. In one town, two homes recently sold for over $40 million each, another home is on the market at $80 million and a 1-acre lot is listed at $25 million. Nearly half the population in the other community lives below the poverty level; home values there are less than half the state’s average. One city boasts Maserati and Rolls Royce car dealerships, Porsches are frequently seen at McDonald’s drive-through windows, and private jets fly in and out of the local airport every weekend. People in the other community, however, rarely own even a “beater” car; most have no easy means of transportation. In one municipality, it’s common to see pampered pooches riding in designer strollers. In the other, where most families have to walk or use buses to go anywhere, even a used baby stroller is a precious commodity. Their serious need for baby strollers was brought to the attention of our pastor and he has designated December 14 as “Stroller Sunday.” Our goal is to gather 100 strollers for the people of that community. I’m confident that there will be a stage lined with baby strollers the 14^th.

We don’t have to do anything as dramatic as gathering 100 strollers, however, to make a difference in someone’s life. As we rush through the malls this holiday season, buying what we consider “necessities” but for many others would be luxury items, why not stop by one of the many giving trees and pick a name or two of someone for whom to purchase gifts? The Wise Men brought gifts to the baby Jesus, let’s think about bringing some gifts to those less fortunate. Let Christmas truly be a time of giving, not getting; may it be a time of bringing comfort and joy to others with acts of kindness and generosity.

Christmas is most truly Christmas when we celebrate it by giving the light of love to those who need it most. [Ruth Carter Stapleton]

Whoever gives to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to poverty will be cursed. [Proverbs 28:27 (NLT)]