One of the traditions I grew up with was White Gift Sunday. The children in our Sunday School were asked to bring a child’s gift wrapped in white on the first Sunday in December.

Each year, Mom would help my sisters and me each wrap a new toy, game or puzzle with white tissue paper, and it was labelled as to the age of the child it would be suitable for and whether it was better for a boy or a girl.

At the appointed time, we were invited to bring our gifts to the front of the church and place them under a Christmas tree. These gifts were dedicated during our worship time and later distributed by The Salvation Army to families in need.

White Gift Sunday dates back to 1904 when the wife of a Methodist minister in Ohio and her daughters came up with the idea. The gifts were wrapped in white so people could anonymously give, and no one would know the value of the gift inside. This meant that people who could only provide a little would not be embarrassed.

Some people believe this came from a legend where everyone gave their emperor a gift wrapped in plain white paper so every gift would look the same. People gave what they could, and the emperor welcomed them all.

The church I now attend has a tradition of filling shoeboxes with children’s items that Samaritan’s Purse distributes to children in need worldwide. So, each year, I take at least one box to fill with as many small items as possible: crayons, a toothbrush, a small cuddly toy, a small craft, candy canes, and so on.

At work, I’m privileged to receive many prayer letters from missionaries and other international personnel. Reading their words of thanks to Samaritan’s Purse and those who donate filled shoeboxes is so rewarding. Best of all, I see pictures of children grinning from ear to ear as they open their little treasures.

White gifts and shoeboxes celebrate the gift of God’s love in giving us His Son, Jesus Christ. As He came as God’s gift to people in need of a Saviour, we give gifts of love to people in need.

Each year at Christmas
the spirit of giving
Adds joy to the season
and gladness to living.
Helen Steiner Rice

Something you might want to journal

• What are some Christmas traditions you grew up with?
• How did you learn about giving to those less fortunate?