We are Called...

About 10 years ago, the Edlund family (my mom's side) decided to make a change to their traditional Christmas giving. After many years of exchanging gifts with each other or doing the "White Elephant" gift exchange at Christmas we all decided that none of us really "needed" anything! So, we came up with the idea that our Christmas gift should be to "help" either a family or an organization.  Each one of us (G&G, siblings, and grandchildren) give a monetary amount towards "the Edlund Family Gift" and this amount varies each year but is usually around $25-30.  Once you turn 18 you are now "eligible" to contribute! ;)  There has gotten to be quite a few contributors and our total "gift" usually ends up being around $500-700. Thus the beginning! 

A few weeks prior to Christmas we start talking as a family of who the recipient should be. Over the years we have used our "gift" to purchase gifts for a family, purchase nights at the Ronald McDonald House for a family, given the money to someone or given it to a local organization.

This year our "Edlund Family Gift" is going to a family that we don't know!   We have a social worker who comes to the school who helped us "choose" this family. He was able to get a "Wish List" from them and we actually went out and purchased gifts for them.   This afternoon we got together and had a "Wrapping Party".  After two hours of wrapping...mission accomplished! 

Pictured above and below is our purchases before we wrapped them today...

This is after wrapping them....

As far as I am concerned (and I think the rest of my Edlund family would agree) this is the best Christmas present we purchase!  When my kids read what this family's Christmas List, I think they were shocked!  There was not many "fun" things, but just your basic needs, ie. socks, underwear, sweatshirts, jeans, t-shirts, shampoo/conditioner and personal hygeine products!  All I could think of is, "Boy, My family and I are spoiled!"...so after pooling our monies we are hopefully going to make this family's Christmas a little brighter this year! 

This morning in church we sang a song titled, "We Are Called" and I had tears in my eyes singing it.  I am going to share the words with you as I believe that this is what Christmas is all about!

Verse 1:  Come!  Live in the light!  Shine with the joy and the love of the Lord!  We are called to be light for the kingdom, to live in the freedom of the city of God.   Refrain...

Verse 2:  Come!  Open your heart!  Show your mercy to all those in fear!  We are called to be hope for the hopeless so hatred and blindness will be no more.  Refrain...
 
Verse 3:  Sing!  Sing a new song!  Sing of that great day when all will be one!  God will reign, and we'll walk with each other as sisters and brothers united in love.  Refrain...
 
Refrain:  We are called to act with justice, we are called to love tenderly; we are called to serve one another, to walk humbly with God.
 
May each of us experience the joy of giving this Christmas!