Gifts

Most of us have heard the term "the gift that keeps giving."

Christians observing the death of Jesus today, followed by His triumph over sin and then his Resurrection to new life on Easter Sunday, are reminded that His gift to mankind is one that keeps giving in the opportunity to attain eternal life.

This Easter, there are also practical gifts that Americans can give to help their fellow man.

The nation seems to be slowly climbing back from a dark recession of 2008, when many middle-class Americans ended up losing a job or their homes. In some cases, families were plunged into into something they never experienced before poverty. But poverty in this country is vastly different from the depths of despair we see around the world.

There are church and charitable organizations helping the poor in other destitute nations get back on their feet, not only providing immediate food aid but live animals gifts that keep giving.

A few years ago, Sunday school children from my own church raised money to help families in an area of India which our church outreached and helps support through a partner ministry there. The strategy was to help a family by buying a cow. What better way to help improve the livelihood of people in disadvantaged areas than with a farm animal?

There are numerous worldwide ministries that sponsor such outreach projects. One called Health in Harmony, offers goats to widows, along with training and other assistance. In return, the participants pay back two baby goats, which are then distributed to two other households in need. They also pay back with a few bags of manure, which are distributed to local organic farmers.

A group called Heifer International also helps people hatch new hope for sustainable food and income. It advises on its website that instead of marshmallow chicks or chocolate bunnies, people have an opportunity to give real chicks or rabbits to a needy family.

There are different size gifts. One provides families with a starter flock of 10-50 chickens, which will provide enough eggs to eat, sell and share and ensure the health and well being for entire communities.

Another, called the Hoppy Easter Basket, is filled with shares of a sheep, heifer, goat, rabbits and a flock of ducks and chicks. These will do more for needy families than a chocolate bunny or marshmallow chick ever could.

Nourishment helps the poor and needy pull themselves out of poverty, and then provides the tools to help them improve their lives.

Whether its flocks of chicks, geese, ducks, lambs, goats, bees or cows, these are the kinds of Easter gifts that can truly make a difference in a family's life today and then keep giving.

By Jim Zbick

jzbick@tnonline.com