Written by Guest Contributor, Penny White | December 21, 2023
Several years ago, I was introduced to a book that has had a big impact on my personal generosity journey. Christmas Jars, by Jason F Wright, tells the fictional story of glass jars being filled with money and given anonymously at Christmas. Reading the stories of these jars inspired me to start a Christmas jar tradition of my own.
At the beginning of each year, I place a glass mason jar on a bookshelf in my house, and throughout the year I fill the jar with loose change and bills as I feel led. Beginning early December, I begin praying over the jar and asking the Holy Spirit to prompt and lead me to a person that could benefit from receiving this gift. While the gift is monetary, my prayer is that the recipient would also receive joy and a sense of renewed hope by receiving this gift.
The first year I filled a Christmas jar, I was led to give the jar to grandparents that were raising their grandchildren and struggling to provide the kids with gifts for Christmas. We were both in tears as I handed the jar to the grandfather and wished him a Merry Christmas. This initial experience blessed me in a profound way, and I knew this was a tradition I was called to continue.
There have been years where I felt a direct prompting regarding the recipient, and other years the money has been put into a Salvation Army kettle or donated to a local charity. Recipients have ranged from a young single mother struggling to provide Christmas gifts for her children to a homeless man on a dark and snowy night in December.
The Christmas Jar experience helps me to reflect on God’s faithfulness and provision for me and reminds me that as Christians we are called to see and serve the marginalized in our world. It is inspiring to think that there are countless others spreading generosity in this way.
Check out this book- perhaps it will inspire you on your own generosity journey.
The King will reply “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” -Matthew 25:40
Bio:
Penny White is a passionate Christ follower seeking to honor God with her life. She lives in Sycamore, Illinois and is the Customer Success Manager for The Suter Company, where she has worked for the last 14 years. Penny was introduced to Dynamis Ministries through The Generosity Experience class offered as one of the employee enrichment benefits at the company and felt an immediate connection to the mission. She is an active member of her local church and serves with several non-profit organizations to serve the marginalized in society and throughout the world. In her spare time Penny enjoys reading, baking, bike riding and making memories with her three granddaughters.
