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The War Cry | DECEMBER 2014
To Ring or
Not to Ring?
by
DONN YOVER
M
y wife and I felt that volunteering
outside of our normal work roles
would help to support the Army.
Volunteering to "man the kettle" proved so
much more than that. The lesson of Mark
12:41�44 played out many times.
"Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple
and watched as the crowds dropped in their money.
Many rich people put in large amounts. Then a poor
widow came and dropped in two small coins. Jesus called
His disciples to Him and said, `I tell you the truth, this
poor widow has given more than all the others who are
making contributions. For they gave a tiny part of their
surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she
had to live on.'"
While many people gave generously at the kettle, we
will never forget the moments when the poorly dressed,
the disabled and the generally downtrodden of God's
children came up to the kettle to drop in their pennies,
nickels, dimes
and quarters.
Late one eve-
ning, three children
ran up to the kettle
holding coins from
their piggy banks
and slowly poured
them in while
their parents
smiled nearby. They had driven for 10 miles to
come to our kettle in response to an email we had sent
out. We talked about Jesus and how their money would
bless kids and families that needed food and clothes. I
gave them the bell to ring for Jesus.
So, whenever you have a chance to volunteer for
The Army, consider the blessings that God is just
waiting to give you as you help others.
To ring or not to ring? No question!
May God bless you and your loved ones during this
season and always!
Donn Yover is Human Resources Director for the Salvation
Army Sierra del Mar, California Division.
i th T
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smiled nearby. They had drive
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A New Christmas
Tradition
by
TARA GNAGY
A
s a child, the fi rst thing that came to my
mind when someone said "Christmas"
was presents. I loved waking up to fi nd
gifts waiting for me under the Christmas tree.
When my mother announced, "We're not going to
have presents this year," my mouth dropped to my rein-
deer�covered socks. I listened to her explain that we were
to forgo our own gifts so we could buy food and clothing
for another family.
When we went shopping for the other family, I grunted
and nodded grumpily when my mother asked me if I
thought the little boy would like this shirt or if the girl my
age would think that turtleneck was cute. We fi lled the
trunk of our car with the clothes and groceries
we had bought.
There was no doorbell to ring on the trailer, so mother
knocked and a girl my age opened the door. She
gazed eagerly at our gifts and ran to fetch her
mother. Mother and daughter both wore old
T-shirts, sweatpants and holey socks. My eyes
widened as I scanned their tiny trailer home cluttered
with cheap action fi gures and Happy Meal toys.
The mother looked gratefully at the bags we toted
into her house. "Thank you," was all she said, but
her sincerity was enough.
"Mommy," I whispered. "I don't think I want presents
again next year, either."
God told His Israelite followers through Moses: "Give
generously to the poor, not grudgingly, for the Lord your God
will bless you in everything you do... share freely with the poor
and with other Israelites in need" (Deuteronomy 15:10�11). Our
society whispers to us that we need to rise to buy more for
ourselves. Sometimes, though, we must step away from the
mirror and look around at others' needs and tend to them.
Christmas shouldn't be about joy for ourselves alone.
Tara Gnagy lives in Upland, Indiana.