A month before Christmas our family would assemble shoeboxes filled with gifts for orphans around the world. I loved putting the different toys in each box, unable to imagine a child excited about toys small enough to fit in a box.
Is a 10-year old boy really going to be excited about something as simple as a toothbrush?
The 10-year olds I knew might be excited about a remote control car or baseball cards but I knew that excitement would only last moments until a bigger, better gift came along.
Growing up I experienced a Christmas filled with abundance.
Receiving a toothbrush simply wouldn’t have satisfied. I would have been disappointed, upset I hadn’t received anything more grand.
Even though my mom attempted to fight the American consumerism that overtakes our Christmas each year, she still couldn’t resist. Gifts would be piled around the tree weeks before. Even after the presents were opened and the wrapping cleaned up, we knew the best was yet to come. Santa would bring the extravagant presents like an entire kitchen play set or a bike.
The kids in orphanages around the world experience a much different Christmas. As I carried shoeboxes identical to the ones I would fill growing up, I had a completely different perspective. These were not boring toothbrushes or toy cars, these were humble treasures.
We passed out the gifts to a group of patient, yet eager children. Even though their presents were a month late, their eyes lit up at the sight of their very own gift.
They opened each box with great care, never glancing around to see how many other gifts remained for them. Excitedly they picked up each small treasure inside, a car puzzle, blow-up ball, a toothbrush.
There was no,”But I want that box” or “How come HE got the toy car?” That is so often heard in homes around America. They were content, thrilled, with each small treasure they could now call their own.
Even though the presents weren’t grand, the look on each child’s face as they played with their toys was priceless. The kids were especially mesmerized by the toothbrushes they received, opening up the packaging and showing them off to the other kids in the room.
