Give It Away

"Live Simply So That Others May Simply Live"

 I read this quote last week and it has resonated with me since.  I saw a blog post about a yard giveaway.  Instead of a yard sale they gave their items away to people in need.  The day before I read this blog post I woke up and felt like God said - get rid of your baby clothes (this whole stirring is for another post).  And this whole idea of living simply so that I can give to others just so they can simply live has become all I can think about these days. This summer while in NYC the boys had 3 toys to play with - tinker toys, a small train set and a few stuffed animals.  And they played more creatively with those three toys than I ever see them play here in this plethora of stuff. I don't want to give it to goodwill to turn around and sell it.  I want people who NEED it to have it.  So as I have begun to research places to give this stuff too my heart has been heavy.  There are so many women and children shelters here in bham as well as schools started in low income areas to help battle the pulls of poverty.  So I have decided that instead of having a yard giveaway I am going to just send out emails to these ministries and give them categories of what I have.  Then me and the boys will load up the stuff and take it to the ministry.  I am really excited about this because we will also get to see some of the people we are helping.  I want the boys especially to see the receivers of their sacrifices.  And yes, we are going to sacrifice as a family.  Not just toys that we have outgrown but even culling down the ones that are age appropriate to live simply.  Me and John will be doing the same regarding our clothes and such.  We have more than we need. The Bible speaks of the early church as not considering their possessions their own but sharing all that they have.
So won't you consider how your house can implement the quote "live simply so that others may simply live" as we begin this new year.