I kept looking toward the roller coasters, nervously tapping my foot. I had waited more than half an hour, instead of enjoying the theme park. I needed to meet up with the rest of the family, but time crawled as I fidgeted on the bench. It was only natural that I asked for walkie-talkies that next Christmas.

For several years after that, the walkie-talkies were a great help on a lot of our vacation trips. Then in 2007, we used our cell phones when we needed to connect, but actually our kids really don’t want us to split up anymore. They wanted us to spend the day together when we go to a park.

The walkie-talkies waited silently in a drawer for two years until I came across them and knew it was time to find a new home for them. They were still in good condition and worth a little bit. However, I don’t do yard sales anymore, so I didn’t even think about selling them. Instead, I started thinking about who might need some walkie-talkies.

I tried our church because our campus is getting more spread out, but they already had some. I was getting a little tired of the time and effort of looking for new owners when I thought of friends of ours who were expecting their fifth child. This little princess was due soon and found herself in a homeschool family with four active brothers, ages four to fifteen.

I sent an e-mail off to Jo. She was thrilled and so was I. Now she can stay inside when she needs to rest or to watch little ones and at the same time know she can easily reach her active boys. The boys will have a lot of fun with the walkie-talkies, too, exploring their large, rural property.

Of course, I could have just donated these to a charity. It would have been easier, but it’s a lot more fun and rewarding to find a need and help to meet it.

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When the crowds came to John for baptism, he said, “You brood of snakes! Who warned you to flee God’s coming wrath? Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones. Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.”

The crowds asked, “What should we do?”

John replied, “If you have two shirts, give one to the poor. If you have food, share it with those who are hungry.” ~ Luke 3: 7 – 11 NLT