Nothing about the plain envelope betrayed the excitement I felt when I opened the sheet of paper with its secret message. I knew the code to interpret it. It began with J3:16 5. Mk14:3 24. I picked up my King James Bible and looked up John 3:16 counted to the fifth word and wrote down “the.” Of course back in my youth we only had the King James Version. So without question I would find that the 24th word in Mark 14:3 was box.
Once I looked up all the verses and counted the words, I sat back and read, “The box is in your grandmother’s house. Look under the couch.” My mom drove me over the hills of upstate New York to my grandparents’ house.
I found the box, as promised, under grandma’s couch. Inside the shoebox I found a treasure of interesting kid stuff. I know I enjoyed each item inside it, yet I only recall receiving a small black comb. My memories focused on being the child chosen that week for the coded letter. I had watched enviously when others arrived at our church kid club holding their treasure box. I finally had my turn.
I recalled that long ago fun recently as I searched for post holiday clearance bargains to place in Operation Christmas Child (OCC) shoeboxes. The first requirement is “small enough to fit in a shoebox.” Second, whatever we put in the box must be fun and third, stuff it to the brim.
We do include the recommended practical items of a comb, toothbrush and basic school supplies. All those are easy to find. However the guidelines say, include a WOW! items such as a flattened soccer ball with pump and needle for a boy, a soft stuffed animal for a preschooler or a new doll for a girl.
One of my favorite things to pack is a new box of crayons along with a handful of pencils, pens, eraser, scissors and a pad of paper. Such riches to any child: all those brand new materials for school and crafts.
With this in mind and months to shop. I always shop with an eye for great prices on brand new, fun toys, gadgets, games or WOW! items for the OCC boxes.
I especially go on high alert after a holiday or special event. I know the day after that prices will drop fifty percent in most shops. I prefer 70 to 90 percent off, but some items sell before reaching that deep of a discount. Add to that, my addiction to yard sales and of course I saw the yard covered with rows of white plastic sacks. It looked like a sale, except I saw no sign. I started to pass. I had a listed sale to visit. But, just in case, I turned the car around and asked, “are you having a yard sale?”
“Yes, but we don’t have any books.” The seller knew I collected Christian literature.
“What do you have?”
“Leftover clearance toys and some clothes.”
“I will take a look.”
I not only looked, I shopped and shopped and shopped. For at least thirty minutes I picked up new toys for little boys and girls, medium sized kids and junior high kids. I had dolls, trucks, little houses, games, activity books and even a few items of clothing. I had a number of WOW items that once cost more than $15 each. When I finished choosing, the sellers helped me load the trunk, back seat and the passenger seat of my sedan. God provided me with a grand opportunity to increase the number of kids I could bless through OCC.
I went home feeling richly blessed. I pray the kids will feel the same when they open their OCC shoeboxes as I did with my treasure box many decades ago.