July – Week 1
Magnificent Missionaries
12 Baskets Full
A Missionary Basket
One of the myriads of misconceptions about missionaries is that they are supernaturally endowed to endure what we ordinary squeamish mortals are unable to bear. The following anecdote will set the record straight. Patrick Jenkins and his family lived in a South American jungle.[1] As they were moving from their temporary home to another location, the family took a short break. While drinking tea, a large black beetle suddenly flew through the room with a loud buzzing noise. As it darted between them, his wife let out a startled scream.
Astonished more by her scream than by the beetle, their youngest daughter cried out, “For heaven’s sake, Mom!”
To which his wife resolutely replied, “That’s the only reason I’m here.”
This month we will pack a gift basket for a single missionary or a missionary family serving abroad. As the main goal of a missionary is to spread the good news of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth, they often live in another country or continent, have to learn another language, and embrace another culture.
Missionaries are sent by a local church and are an extension of the Body of Christ, separated to do cross-cultural ministry, just like Paul and Barnabas in Acts 13. In fulfillment of the Great Commission, our mission is still unchanged: “the whole church taking the whole gospel to the whole world”.
Let’s Get Practical
Packing a basket for a missionary is a privilege. I have been on the receiving end of such baskets for many years, having lived in various countries, both as a single and a married missionary with a house full of children. Unable to ever return the love and thoughtfulness I have received over many years, it is a privilege to pay it forward this month. You will notice that I keep jumping between “they, them, their” and “we, us, our” as I feel so deeply connected to this basket.
Spiritual Food: A smorgasbord available!
I am sure you have heard it said, “leaders are readers”. Well, I can say the same about most missionaries. A library of Christian books is not just about being better equipped to serve, but having resources available to young Christians we are discipling. These days the whole world is connected, and Amazon can deliver almost anywhere – albeit at a price. Receiving new publications from a favourite writer, bestsellers or a kindle with new downloads will all be wildly appreciated. That includes Christian bible studies and magazines, one-year subscription fees paid to Christianity Today, new movies the whole family can enjoy, as well as CDs for both kids and grown-ups. As we often traveled long distances, audiobooks were also hugely popular.
Most missionaries I know, love keeping a journal. The variety of beautiful journals available all makes ideal gifts. I easily go through 2 or 3 a year and taught my children from a young age, to do likewise. Finally, not everybody speaks English, and thus a magazine or newspaper in their mother tongue, in my case, Afrikaans, used to be the ultimate treat.
Friendship: Celebrate Friends for a Season, Friends for a Reason, and Friends for Life!
Living abroad can be very stressful on one’s friendships. Some missionaries will experience the proverb, out of sight out of heart while others will testify that absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Living in the midst of a communications revolution certainly makes life on the ‘remote’ mission field much less ‘remote’. Emails, WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and a host of other new platforms have hugely helped the world stay in touch. And yet, receiving a handwritten card or letter from a supporter still moves my heart in ways in which the other platforms don’t.
I remember once receiving about 50 handwritten notes from a women’s group, beautifully tied with a ribbon. These tender encouragements warmed my heart and fed my soul for months. Add to this a beautiful collection of blank cards and this will be the ideal gift for a missionary wife – especially if the family travels often. One can simply never have enough Thank You cards!
Tastes & Smells from Home: Celebrating the Five Senses
Sending a love gift to a missionary couple from your home culture simply MUST include staples from home – things you can find nowhere else on the planet. Herbal teas, certain chocolates and other candy, a specific coffee brand, cooking spices, and instant mixes are all firm favourites. If you are from South Africa, the UK, or Australia, please add any of the following: Oxo, Marmite, Vegemite, or Bovril! I know the rest of the world is cringing right now. Sorry, but not sorry!
Often certain products are very expensive in your adopted country, yet you struggle to do without them, like milk – making milk powder a huge blessing. Trust me, don’t hesitate to ask your missionary what they need before you finalize your parcel. Oh, and adding a new recipe or stackable measuring cups, in case you run of ideas, will be more than welcome.
Final Thoughts: Last Minute Packing is Okay
Any gift that will make the ministry easier, like teaching aids for your Sunday school class, colouring books, memory cards, and other stationery, will be appreciated. When a family is involved, simple treats for the kids, like bubbles, a frisbee, or a new board game, will guarantee hours of fun. When a single missionary is involved, remember their room or housemates. Pack double or add something the whole house can enjoy.
A shoebox is a perfect size for a package you plan to post as it is both less expensive and unlikely to cause a stir at customs. Oh, and remember to separate food items from soap, sanitizers, and bug spray. If any liquids are involved, please secure them in multiple zip lock bags. My husband wants to know if I remembered to add ‘biltong’ – beef jerky for my American counterparts – which reminds me, do make sure you keep to all international food product restrictions.
With that, I leave you to pack – enjoy!
[1] 1001 Quotes, Illustrations & Humorous Stories, pg. 461
June – Week 3
Grandpa & Grandma
12 Baskets Full
A Father’s Basket
I have decided to interrupt myself and deviate from my theme for the month to focus on Grandpa and Grandma – for it is said that a grandparent is a little bit parent, a little bit teacher, and a little bit best friend. I have the best memories of my Grandma – even this year’s challenge was inspired by her example. In fact, of all the many gifts my mother gave me, I hold Grandma dearest! It is her godly heritage that still anchors me today. The following true story[1] illustrate just how strong their influence can be.
When a British historian, professor Gordon Rupp, was asked how the church in Russia managed to survive decades of persecution and communist propaganda, she gave an insightful reply. “It’s largely due to Grandparents.” The communists made the big mistake of thinking that because the church was just full of old people, it had not future. Yet, they underestimated the impact of grandparents on their grandchildren. The old Russian grandparents passed on their faith to their grandchildren, and is mainly the reason why the church in Russia is still active and growing.
To further illustrate this truth, I would like to share with you a true story told by Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ.[2]
In the 1930’s, Stalin ordered a purge of all Bibles and all believers in the former Soviet Union. Millions of Bibles were confiscated and multitudes of believers were sent to the gulags. In Stavropol, Russia, this order was carried out with a vengeance.
A few years ago, CoMission ministry, which Campus Crusade for Christ sponsors, sent a team to Stavropol. When their team had difficulties getting Bibles shipped from Moscow, someone mentioned the existence of a warehouse outside of town where these confiscated Bibles had been stored since Stalin’s days.
One member finally got up the courage to ask the officials if the Bibles were still there and could be removed and distributed again to the people of Stavropol. The answer was “Yes”!
The next day the team returned with a truck and several Russian people to help load the Bibles. One helper was a young man, who was a sceptical, hostile, agnostic collegian who had come only for the day’s wages.
As they were loading the Bibles, a team member noticed that the young man had disappeared. Eventually, they found him in a corner of the warehouse weeping. He had slipped away hoping to quietly take a Bible. What he had found shook him to the core.
Inside the first page of the Bible, he had picked up was the handwritten signature of his own grandmother! Out of the many thousands of Bibles still left in the warehouse, he had stolen the one belonging to his grandmother. She had no doubt prayed for him and for her city, and her prayers had followed him. Now this young man’s life had been transformed by the very Bible that his grandmother found so dear.
Let’s get practical!
Excited at the prospect of blessing a rare breed of men, willing to be courageous for the sake of the next generation, these gifts have only one message – THANK YOU, DAD and THANK YOU, GRANDDAD and GRANDMA!
Books & Movies:
When we talked about hobbies last week, I was tempted to mention books, but felt they deserve a category of their own. Whether subject books on topics they find interesting: like the Second World War, a biography of a sports hero, a book full of Dad jokes or a stack of old comic books, trust me – it will be a winner.
A Digital Family Album:
One of our family values is making memories. Translated this means we have lots of photo albums from when the children were younger. On top of that, we have photo albums and home recordings dating back to when we were children – all neatly stacked away in a cupboard. One of the perks for our children is looking at these pictures of when we were small – marvelling at how different we looked, laughing at our fashion and hair styles.
While I know there is real danger that we can lose some of these photos forever, I have not taken action yet. But trust me – blessing Dad or Granddad with a digital version of some of these old pictures, either of when he was a child or dating back to your own childhood, will be your best gift idea yet!
As you enjoy this trip down memory lane, don’t forget to frame a favourite family photo or a photo that holds a special memory in your Dad’s heart. Next time you visit his office, you will find it proudly displayed on his desk or hanging above his nightstand.
Something “Homey”:
Bless your Dad or Granddad with something that he can relax in when at home – whether a sweater, hoodie or knitted jersey. My daughter bought her Dad slippers one Father’s Day and he loves using them around the house. When he wears them, I know he is super relaxed. Whatever it is that will encourage Dad to be comfortable and at home in his own house and routine, will be a blessing to him.
[1] https://sermons.faithlife.com/sermons/125308-thank-god-for-grandparents
[2] https://www.guidelines.org/devotional/his-grandmothers-bible/
June – Week 1
Good Fathers are made
12 Baskets Full
A Father’s Basket
To be a good father, you need a model, an example of a father you can emulate, but where to find one. According to 2018 statistics, 64% of all families in South Africa grow up without a father figure. While these statistics are very concerning, I am encouraged by dr. James Dobson, who reminds us that, “Good Fathers are made, not born.”
To illustrate his point, I want to tell you a story about a man named George McClusky.[1]
When George McClusky married and started a family, he decided to invest one hour a day in prayer; because he wanted his kids to follow Christ. After a time, he expanded his prayer to include his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Every day between 11 a.m. and noon, he prayed for the next three generations.
As the years went by, his two daughters committed their lives to Christ and married men who went into full-time ministry. The two couples produced four girls and one boy. Each of the girls married men who went into full-time ministry, and the boy became a pastor.
The first two children born to this generation were both boys. Upon graduation from High School, the two cousins chose the same college and became roommates. During their sophomore year; one boy decided to go into the ministry. The other didn’t. He undoubtedly felt some pressure to continue the family legacy, but he chose instead to pursue his interest in psychology.
He earned his doctorate and eventually wrote books for parents that became bestsellers. He started a radio program heard on more than a thousand stations each day. The man’s name – the very same James Dobson I quoted a little earlier.
Let’s get practical!
Since we are celebrating Father’s Day in a couple of days, I trust you will find all kinds of good gift ideas here. One boy, when asked to describe Father’s Day, said, “It’s just like Mother’s Day, you just do not spend that much on the present!”
A Bible: The Sword of the Spirit
A wonderful way to bless Dad is by giving him a different Bible translation, a Life Principle Bible, a mother tongue translation or a Kindle with the YouVersion downloaded in bigger print. Add to that a devotional from someone he admires, an audio book of a favourite Christian author or a new release from a much-loved worship band.
Remember to write an encouraging word, or a special note in front of the Bible or the book – for it will mean the world to your Dad, trust me!
A Hobby: Tools to Tech to Transport
This can be anything that your Dad finds interesting and loves doing. The gift can be sport specific, like running, cycling, surfing or golf for example. It can be associated with outdoor adventures: like fishing or hunting. I know friends who have an enviable knife collection, for example. Other men enjoy music, woodwork or cooking and any gift that relates to these interests will be highly appreciated. Then there are the vintage car collectors, the handyman and the bird watcher. Whether a spatula or a snazzy new tool collection, it will be appreciated and used, trust me! I forgot to mention the tech savvy engineers, gamers and photographers. If none of these struck your fancy, my husband concluded that you will not go wrong with a back massage!
[1] https://vision.org.au/the-word-for-today/associated-blog/the-word-for-today-devotional-content/the-story-of-george-mccluskey/
May – Week 3
Mother and daughter sisterhood
12 Baskets Full
A Mother’s Basket
How I love the following story I came across many moons ago. While it was supposed to inspire my children to write a piece about a family weekend away, I found it a most apt illustration of a foundational truth about families!
Grandma frowned and groaned as I dropped the watermelon on the hard concrete, breaking the fruit into dozens of messy pieces. “I told you she was too small to carry that big watermelon!” chided Grandma. Mom rolled her eyes in response and snapped, “I’ll get the other one.”
Mom grabbed one of the two remaining watermelons and headed for the front door of the cabin. Unfortunately, she slipped on a piece of watermelon rind and fell onto the lawn. The watermelon she had been carrying was launched into the air like a rocket, landing with a loud splat on the cabin’s front steps.
“You’ve got to be kidding me!” shouted Grandma. “Looks like I’m going to have to do this myself if I want it done right!” In a huff, Grandma grabbed the lone remaining watermelon, tucked it under her arm and headed up the sidewalk to the cabin with a determined look on her face.
Reaching the front door, she shifted the watermelon to her other hand as she reached for the handle. But in a fateful split second, the watermelon squirted out of her grasp and, like the two others before it, sacrificed itself on the concrete path between the car and the cabin.
Mom and I doubled over, howling with laughter. Grandma, a look of stunned disbelief on her face, sunk to the ground and eventually joined Mom and me in a good laugh at what would become known as The Great Watermelon Debacle of 1977. We all settled for oranges instead.
We all drop the proverbial ‘watermelon’ at one stage or another, don’t we? None of the generations are exempted from making mistakes – whether favoritism, being inconsistent, lack of boundaries or over protecting our children. Francine Rivers writes in Book II of Martha’s Legacy, ‘Her Daughter’s Dream,’ the following: “We try to do a little better than the previous generation and find out in the end we’ve made the same mistakes without intending.”
Let’s get practical!
No other relationship is so fraught with hurt, rejection and pain as a parent-child relationship. As we are specifically talking about a mother-daughter connection this month, the following quote comes to mind: while grace is getting what you don’t deserve, mercy is not getting what you do deserve. It is my sincere prayer that the gifts to follow will speak of both grace and mercy.
Speak Life: Encourage one another daily!
God created women as relators and gave us an amazing capacity for verbal communication. The reason why forming deep relational bonds is at the core of being a woman. But together with this blessing came a curse – a woman’s tendency to gossip. Titus 2:3 says that woman “are to be reverent in behaviour, not slanderers.” The NASB says they should not be “malicious gossips” and the KJV mentions “false accusers.” These are all translations of the Greek word diabolos, the word from which we get our English word diabolical. In other words, when we slander and gossip, we are “devil-like”, and our speech resembles his! [1]
Last month we did a social media campaign called #Speak Life where we intentionally blessed our children. Let us continue along those lines, making sure our hearts before God are pure and blameless, for then our conversation will be full of grace and seasoned with salt.
Write a letter or thank you note, send a Whattsapp or a voice note to your Mother or Grandmother, thanking them for all they have done for you, all the good things you learnt from them, the many blessings you received from them.
Seek Solitude:
‘You have to come tuck me in!” Incredulously my jaw dropped as the past 12 hours played itself off in my mind. I have been with the kids the entire day – since long before breakfast. I was involved with all their activities, from home schooling in the morning, to various afternoon activities. This particular day had been a marathon. It was 8 pm and I couldn’t help myself.
“Are you not tired of me yet?” I blurted out.
But starry eyes and thin steely arms around my neck convinced me otherwise. It can certainly be seen as the highest compliment, but I want to tell you that there are seasons and then there are SEASONS!
Enjoy filling your basket with a bath bomb, a face masks or a gift card to a beauty salon where a tired Mum can have either a manicure, pedicure, facial or a hot stone massage. The idea is that this gift will enable a mum with small children, or a hard-working older mum with back spasms and aching feet, to relax her body and quiet her soul for a short while.
Embrace Sisterhood:
A wonderful answer indeed – sisterhood. Knowing that you are not alone in your season: that other Mums with toddlers are tired too, other Mums with teenagers also worried about social media and other Mums facing an empty nest, also in search of purpose.
One Mum remembers with pleasure how a monthly get-together changed her life. “Through it all, I’ve learned that other women’s husbands aren’t perfect either, that kids are always in some kind of stage, and that laughter, love and lunch can smooth out just about any bump. And as Husband points out, it’s a lot cheaper than therapy.”[2]
[1] True Woman 201, Interior Design, pg. 121
[2] Moms Go Where Angels Fear to Thread – Adventures in Motherhood by Joan W. Anderson, pg. 26
May – Week 1
Marvelous Mothers
12 Baskets Full
A Mother’s Basket
What a privilege to celebrate motherhood this month, for a mothering generation is becoming all too rare. Equal but not the same, the role of man and wife has been under intense scrutiny the past decades. While society encourages women to pursue a career, success and power, the modern feminist revolution regard children as a burden, suggesting that they limit women from finding real happiness.
Our lives certainly come in different shapes and sizes and many of us, for various reasons and in different seasons, had to embrace a career together with marriage and motherhood. I have been doing all kinds of combinations: part-time work, full-time work, homeschool and part-time work as well as stay-at-home work. Unfortunately, we Christian women often lack grace, failing to understand economic pressures and different life seasons. It is so important to always remember that God does not do one-size-fits-all. The very reason why my free tool this month is a study of the Proverbs 31 woman.
Keeping all this in mind, I would like to quote a favourite piece from A Legacy of Love, written by Ruth Graham the daughter of Billy and Ruth Graham.[1]
Mother taught my sisters and me that a woman’s highest calling was to be a wife and mother and to make a home for her family. I never got the sense that Mother felt locked away as a homemaker, or left at home with the baggage while my father traveled. Quite the opposite, I believe she felt fortunate that she could stay at home. Making a home was what Mother enjoyed doing and she often said as much: “Liberated to stay at home,” she would say.
Let’s get practical!
I love packing these baskets every month for I love giving gifts. Not my primary love language, it is the one I use most when I reach out to others. By now you may have noticed that each basket we have put together thus far, has a Bible as a first gift. This is not because I lack new gift ideas, but because I truly believe it is the greatest gift of them all.
A Bible:
I love the various translations of the Bible, and am so thankful for the YouVersion on my phone, allowing me free access to them all. Yet, I decided to buy myself two new Bibles this year – a beautiful leather-bound teal NIV Bible as well as a hardcover Message translation. Oh, I did eye the beautiful Word Colouring Bible with hundreds of illustrated verses, but after some deliberation, decided against it. Yet I think it is the perfect gift for any Mother, and if it is too pricy, brothers and sisters can always pool together. In the midst of a busy life, it is my quiet times that sustain me, as I ponder and reflect upon God’s truths. And I know I am not the only one.
A Mentor:
My life is so much richer today because of older or more experienced women who have modeled godliness to me. For seven years I had the privilege to sit at the feet of a woman of prayer. How precious were those hours I spent every fortnight with Tannie Ina! Then there is my friend, Elize – a friend and a homeschool mother. I craved her wisdom, her honesty, her warnings and her wonderful sense of humour. In another season, God added Hettie Britts. As a writer, a homeschool Mum, and a minister of God’s word, Hettie’s honest and humble approach to motherhood and ministry was a life-line.
Wise counsel and guidance from a more experienced person, is a biblical concept. Often called discipleship in the Bible, Jesus modeled it best. Paul followed suit, teaching and instructing Timothy and Silas both in real life situations and via his letters.
The gift of mentorship you bestow on another, will bring a whole new dimension to your relationship. As you learn from, dialogue with and are challenged by another mother, your whole person will benefit. Biblical womanhood intentionally passed on, is one of the greatest gifts we can give the next generation.
A Meal:
Often faced with a deadline at work, visitors at home, and an ambitious school project from the kids, all at once, I would struggle to put a balanced meal on the table. I remember a dear friend once blessing us in the middle of one such hectic week, with supper. Another friend brought lunch – delectable sandwiches we ravenously devoured.
Bless a mother and her family this week with a meal: a pot of soup, a fresh bread, fresh produce from your garden, home cooked jams, a pie of some sort, dessert! I promise you, even if you just make her a cup of tea, she will be blessed!
[1] A Legacy of Love – Things I learned from my mother, pg 76
April – Week 4
Live between steps
12 Baskets Full
A Tabitha Basket April 2021
Today we celebrate international Tell a Story Day.[1] A powerful tool in any generation, this is an art that has survived the ages. A beautiful way for families and friends to cherish shared experiences and re-live adventures, it can take place in any medium. From plays and dramas to movies and books, a story easily bridges the generation gap as well as the cultural divide. Both entertaining and educational, most of us will agree that the best stories come from real-life experiences.
In celebration of the power of story, I would like to finish this month’s basket with an anecdote that resonated with me. I grew up in the age of the Autograph book – a small booklet with coloured pages where friends and family could write sweet notes, silly poems and short messages. It was a gift from my mother whose contribution stayed with me all my life. It was a quote from Etienne de Grellet, far above my command of English at that stage or my ability to put it into practice. Yet, I learnt if off by heart and over the years it many times helped me make a decision, guiding and reminding me that this opportunity may not come again.
I shall pass through this world but once. Any good, therefore, that I can do or any kindness I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer it or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.
Thus, when I came across the following illustration in a book, I could somewhat identify and agree, although I, by no means claim to implement it the way this gentleman did. I fail all too frequently, choosing self above service, career above kindness and efficiency above affection.
A university professor tells of being invited to speak at a military base one December and there meeting an unforgettable soldier named Ralph. Ralph had been sent to meet him at the airport. After they had introduced themselves, they headed toward the baggage claim.
As they walked down the concourse, Ralph kept disappearing. Once to help an older woman whose suitcase had fallen open. Once to lift two toddlers up to where they could see Santa Claus, again to give directions to someone who was lost. Each time he came back with a smile on his face.
“Where did you learn that?” the professor asked.
“What?” Ralph said.
“where did you learn to live like that?”
“Oh,” Ralph said, “during the war, I guess.” He then told the professor about his tour of duty in Vietnam, how it was his job to clear minefields, how he watched his friends blow up before his eyes, one after another.
“I learned to live between steps,” he said. “I never knew whether the next one would be my last, so I learned to get everything I could out of the moment between when I picked up my foot and when I put it down again. Every step I took was a whole new world, and I guess I’ve been that way ever since.” [2]
Friends and followers, may the abundance of our lives truly be marked not by how long we live, but by how well we live!
[1] https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/tell-a-story-day/
[2] 1001 Quotes, Illustrations & Humorous Stories for preachers, teachers & writers, from Edward K. Rowell & Leadership Journal, pg 195
April – Week 3
How much do you care
12 Baskets Full
A Tabitha Basket April 2021
In 1885, a nine-year-old boy named Joseph Meister, was attacked by a rabid dog. At this time, Louis Pasteur, the famed researcher and pioneer of immunology, was experimenting with a vaccine that after years of hard work, seemed to work on rabid dogs. While he had never used it on an infected human, the boy’s mother begged him to experiment on her son. Pasteur, not without fear and trepidation, injected Joseph for ten days – and the boy lived.
Decades later, Pasteur was asked what epitaph he would like engraved on his tombstone. Of all the things this great man with his many accomplishments could have picked, he chose three simple words: Joseph Meister lived.
It is said that ‘people don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.’[1] I believe Louis Pasteur cared deeply. I also believe that we all have some caring to do in this world.
Let’s get Practical
Jesus came to save and restore the whole man – spirit, soul and body, promising us life in abundance. This week will add items that will reflect this care and abundance He teaches us.
Friendship: ‘I call you friends’
Addressing loneliness and isolation should be one of our first priorities, especially among singles (men and women) and the elderly. Forgotten and neglected – sometimes even by their own family members, these individuals often faithfully served others for many years. Now abandoned by children and left behind by friends, depression and feelings of hopelessness start to settle in their spirits. Willing to spend time with them, listening to their current heartache and pain or their past joys and successes, will lift their spirits and revive their souls – for self-pity can become a bottomless pit.
But we can also take it to the next level, like a lady I know about who regularly visits the elderly in their homes. She loves on them by cutting their toenails, and caring for their feet in general. In the process she has become a beloved friend and confidant of many.
A Job & Dignity: ‘the hand of the diligent will rule’[2]
The age-old Chinese proverb comes to mind. Instead of giving people a fish, let us give them the skill to fish – for dependency can become a real challenge. Willing to invest in people, giving them opportunity to develop their talents and learn a new competence, is a wonderful way to care for others.
While some have creative skills that needs to be re-discovered, others simply have never been exposed. What a privilege to invite them into a world of endless opportunities, sisterhood, and recreation. One lady who is currently overseeing twenty other women in a thriving bead making project, was a reluctant beginner. “I can only wash windows,” she originally protested when invited to join in one morning of fun. Yet, it was love at first sight!
When it comes to creativity, the options are endless. Needlework, embroidery, knitting and crocheting, mosaic tile work, decoupage, card making, basket making, weaving of carpets, dressmaking and gardening are but the tip of the iceberg. Now you know what to do with your knitting needles, bags of old wool, scrapbooking paraphernalia and other craft tools stacked away in your spare room cupboard.
Miscellaneous Blessings: Walking the second mile
Other practical ways in which we can creatively draw near those destitute and demoralized, are:
- Sponsoring a business training and helping young and older entrepreneurs with a micro loan to launch their own small venture.
- Giving people a prepaid cell phone to alleviate pressure.
- Offering to repair someone’s car or pay for their annual service.
- Taking over their car payments for a month, six months or a year.
- Buying them a goat – if they are rural farmers.
- Sponsoring their bus ticket to work and back home for a year.
- Paying their child’s day care or school fees for a month or a couple of months.
- Offering to buy school supplies for their children.
- Buying them a microwave or slow cooker to make life at home a little easier.
- Feeding their animals for a time, making sure they are dewormed and sterilized.
As you can see, caring can take on many forms and the above is by no means an exhaustive list. Allow God to show you other practical ways to be there for someone going through a hard time. I believe a friend in need is a friend ‘in deed’!
[1] Theodore Roosevelt quotation
[2] Proverbs 12:24
April – Week 2
Basin theology
12 Baskets Full
A Tabitha Basket April 2021
I was deeply touched by a conversation between a pastor and an active layman, on the topic of giving the other day. The pastor was challenged with, “You preachers talk a lot about giving, but when you get right down to it, it all comes down to basin theology.”
“Basin theology? What’s that?” the pastor wanted to know.
The layman replied, “Remember what Pilate did when he had the chance to acquit Jesus? He called for a basin and washed his hands of the whole thing. But Jesus, the night before his death, called for a basin and proceeded to wash the feet of the disciples. It all comes down to basin theology: Which one will you use?”[1]
I have always liked people who ask hard, honest questions – not rude questions! There is a big difference. Cutting through all the fluff, they get to the heart of the matter and the truth is, we all need honest confrontations from time to time. Thus, my two questions to you today: Who are you serving? Who are you strengthening?
Let’s get practical
Jesus shared in our humanity, suffered in the body and broke the power of sin forever. While on earth, He ministered emotionally, spiritually and physically to both men and women. This week we will focus on the basic physical needs of others.
While I will make some suggestions, the idea is that you will adapt your basket according to the needs of the family you are reaching out to – whether a single Mum, a family with a baby or an elderly couple.
Food: Jesus was hungry.[2]
When Jesus taught the disciples to pray, he mentioned that we should ask for our daily bread. As a friend likes to point out, there was no mention of butter, jam and cheese! Thus, I too will try to keep my suggestions as basic as possible.
I would start with staples like rice, pasta, flour (wheat and/or maize), baking powder, oil, salt and dry milk. Next, I would add proteins like tinned tuna, a variety of tinned beans, lentils and veggies – also tinned to ensure a longer shelve life in case the family does not have a refrigerator. Mayonnaise, chicken stock, sugar, coffee and tea, as well as veggies like pumpkin, potatoes and sweet potatoes, are other food items I would add. As are a treat – a tin of condensed milk, jam and peanut butter, cool drink, and definitely some fresh fruit. A gift card from a local grocery store close to them is another practical way to bless a family – allowing them the freedom to do their own shopping. That will allow for more fresh items, too.
I believe this section is not complete without adding some veggie seeds. The idea of growing your own garden – even if in pots or old tyres, fills me with hope, while the potential to care and nurture, both empowers and educates.
Medicine: Is there no balm in Gilead?[3]
Jesus did not only heal us of a sickness called sin, but He ceaselessly cared for people’s physical pains and ailments. He sent John’s disciples back with this reassuring news: the blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. [4]
As you collect a box of plasters, some paracetamol and a few sachets of rehydrate, I want to challenge you to address some of the underlying issues people with low-income, battle.
While clean water is something people in the West take for granted, it is not so elsewhere in the world. Contaminated water and poor sanitation are linked to a number of preventable diseases, like cholera, diarrhoea, hepatitis A, and many more. How do we help?
Support projects run by NGO’s and missionaries, both at home and abroad. These can vary from providing filters and chlorine tablets to building wells and better sewage systems at schools and in villages.
Back to our Tabitha basket. Please add both personal care items and household cleaning supplies: laundry detergent, disinfectant, surface cleaner, dishwashing gel; deodorant, shampoo, soap, body lotion, toilet paper, toothpaste, baby products or tampons – as is applicable for your basket.
Clothing: Why do you worry about clothes? [5]
With the onset of Autumn and significantly cooler days, many will be worried about warm clothes and blankets. Let us not get tired of doing good, but step up to the plate. Often our cupboards are full of clothes we hardly wear and spare bedding we seldom use. This should not stop you from adding new underwear and socks to your basket. Let’s live generously. I believe it is Anne Frank who said, “No one has ever become poor by giving!” I believe it is true.
[1] 750 Engaging Illustrations, number 625
[2] Mark 11:12
[3] Jeremiah 8:22
[4] Matthew 11: 4,5
[5] Matthew 6:28
April – Week 1
Beautiful Kindness
12 Baskets Full
A Tabitha Basket
Tabitha, called Dorcas in Greek, was known for her good works and acts of kindness to those in need.[1] At her death, many widows, overcome with grief, showed Peter various items of clothing she sewed for them. In our language, her name means ‘gazelle’ and recalls an animal with lightness of step, beauty and grace. Interestingly Joppa, the harbour city she called home, also means beautiful.[2]
While the Bible does not tell us whether she was single, married or widowed, if she was rich or poor or whether she had children, we do know that this disciple of Jesus actively cared for the poor. She willingly gave of her time and talent to help others in need. An ordinary woman, with an ordinary skill, Tabitha did something simple yet beautiful with her life.
Covid19 has added 500 million people to global poverty, which means 8% of the global population.[3] Imagine the challenge and opportunity this brings to the church and missionaries around the world. While we can easily feel overwhelmed and do nothing, my plea is that the ordinary woman of today with her ordinary skills, will do something beautiful for a sister or a stranger – someone stretched and challenged, weary and drained, someone who needs encouragement.
Let’s get practical!
Poverty has many faces as there are different types of poverty, different causes of poverty and also different solutions to poverty – making it a complex problem that can easily overwhelm us. Yet, our priorities should remain steadfast as we tackle this basket.
A Bible: For man does not live by bread alone!
The Message explains it well – “It takes more than bread to stay alive. It takes a steady stream of words from God’s mouth.”[4] Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega and the reality of His presence makes all the difference to our circumstances. Thus, when we give someone a Bible, we put into their hands the most powerful tool for transformation that exists in the world. Unique in its message, it is a life-giving force that brings hope. It has the power to convict, regenerate, to produce faith, build up, make wise and bring peace[5] – reminding us that the Word is not only with God, but that the Word is God.
While many people can read, it is important to remember that to communicate with non-readers, illiterate, visually impaired and blind people, the solar powered audio Bible is an invaluable tool. Easily available and affordable, it will speak comfort to everyone in need.
Tissues: He will wipe every tear from their eyes.[6]
God sees our tears. He knows about our loneliness. Close to the brokenhearted, Jesus reminds us that a bruised reed he will not break and a smouldering wick he will not snuff out.
When a slave girl with no rights or opinions and mistreated by her mistress, flees into the desert because she can take the abuse no more, she finds herself alone without shelter or food. On top of everything, she is pregnant with her master’s child. Hagar’ story [7]
may be unique, but many can relate to the emotions of rejection, fear and loneliness she experienced. It is here that God calls her by name and reveals himself as El Roi – the God who sees.
Abandoned by a husband, laid off at work, neglected by parents, betrayed by a friend or abused as a child – too many women can relate to Hagar’s story. To bring them comfort, it is important that we too call them by name, take time to listen to their stories, wipe their tears and remind them that God is intimately acquainted with the details of their situations. Wonderfully and fearfully made and worth far more than many sparrows, the very hairs on their heads are numbered.
Hand & Nail Cream: The Aroma of Christ
In the Old Testament, aromatic incense was continually burnt on the golden altar inside the Holy of Holies, representing the constant prayers of God’s people. Adding any type of cream to this week’s basket, will remind us to pray for the person or family we are blessing. First prize is to lavishly apply it to the hands of these beautiful individuals ourselves and then bless them in their own homes. If they are comfortable to share their specific requests, it is a bonus. Otherwise, we can trust the Holy Spirit to show us what to pray for.
So pleasant are these precious prayers that God lovingly collects them in golden bowls.[8]‘ By keeping them close, he can continually enjoy their blessed bouquet,’ writes Denise Kohlmeyer. [9] What a beautiful incentive to spread the fragrance of God’s grace as we walk in love and keep praying for those in need.
[2] https://www.abarim-publications.com/Meaning/Joppa.html
[3] https://dialogos.co.za/seven-tipping-points-in-2021/
[4] Matthew 4:4
[5] https://www.biblesprout.com/articles/bible/power/
[6] Revelations 21:4
[7] Genesis 16: 1- 13
[8] Revelations 5:8
[9] https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/four-aromas-god-loves-most
March – Week 4
Masterpiece
12 Baskets Full
A Heritage Basket March 2021
Thank you for supporting the next generation this month. Thank you for praying for them. Thank you for spending quality and quantity time with them. Thank you for spending money on them. Thank you for being a resource and a friend to a tired Mum, a single Mum or a GrandMum! Living beyond our own families and investing in the lives of other families is a privilege and a challenge. As you bless others, it is my sincere prayer, that you and your family too will be blessed!
Let’s Get Practical
Many of the books I am listing below can nowadays be found on Facebook, Instagram and other social media platforms. YouTube channels abound and most Christian based organisations and Christian authors, like Focus on the Family, Charlotte Mason groups, Ann Voskamp and Sally Clarkson, have excellent blogs and websites.
- Raising Your Children For Christ – Andrew Murray
- Charlotte Mason Companion, Personal Reflections on The Gentle Art of Learning by Karen Andreola,
- The Lifegiving Table, Girls Club, and others by Sally Clarkson
- Book girl – Sarah Clarkson
- Shepherding a Child’s Heart by Tedd Tripp
- Bringing up girls, Bringing up Boys, The New Strong-willed Child, all by dr. James Dobson
- Life Skills for Kids, Equipping your Child for the Real World, by Christine M. Field
- The Mommy Manual by Barbara Curtis
- Mothers & Daughters, Learning to be friends, by Marie Chaplan
- Going Home Grown Up, A Relationship Handbook for Family Visits, by Anne F. Grizzle
- Raising Resilient MKs, Resources for Caregivers, Parents and Teachers by Joys M. Bowers, Editor
- Third Culture Kids, The Experience of Growing Up Among Worlds by David C. Pollok and Ruth E. Van Reken. The latter two books are both highly recommended for missionary families.
- JumpStart3 Youtube Kids Music Channle, https://www.youtube.com/user/OfficialJumpStart3
- Erich & Lizette Posthumus Aanlynlesse, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbKS-FWl0XbuF3KAUlLl92g
- PursueGOD Kids Resources, https://www.youtube.com/user/pursueGODkids
- PursueGOD Video Resources, https://www.youtube.com/user/pursuegodvideo
- PursueGOD Youth Resources, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1maBE6dGi3lmtnMs_4PCNg
- Roadtrip247, Afr or Eng Website, https://roadtrip.247.org.za/
day.net/what-love-looks-like/
