He gave...

gigi carrillo, 59, rockport, US

a child was born but A SON was given. Giving is the greatest statement of Love.

2009-12-14 17:03:40

Who doesn't love Hot Cocoa?!?!

Jon & Lisa Meade, 36, West Plains, Mo. , US

My husband and I just starting attending an amazing church and last Sunday our Pastor put before us the Gift Revolution. Jon and I both took a packet of cards with 10 each. After supper last week we decided to finish up some Christmas shopping, our idea was to take hot chocolate to the Salvation Army bell ringers at Wal-Mart and JC Penney. Sometimes trying to be a blessing doens't come as easy as we think. The plan was to get 5 cups of hot chocolates at the local gas station. The first station we went to the hot chocolate machine didn't work. The second station we were able to get 3 cups of hot chocolate before the machine stopped working. We delivered those 3 cups (the look on the lady's face at JC Penney's was priceless)! We then proceeded to McDonald's which we assumed would be time effective (took about 20 minutes) after about an hour the final 2 cups of hot chocolate were delivered. Something that should have taken a short period of time ended up taking more time but what an amazing experience it was giving something as simple as hot chocolate. We have been so blessed by being able to be apart of it. It's made this Christmas season the best Christmas ever! We can't wait to do it again tonight...wonder where we'll be lead to go?!?!?

2009-12-14 14:37:30

giving

Ramona Strathearn, 47, West Plains, BR

Giving in itself is truely the gift to us! Made a Christmas for a young mother, and her 2 year old daughter, Went to Nursing home painted all the Ladies nails,Donated my clothes to a free clothes program, Gave blood @ Red Cross, and gave donation,Sent money to Zambia Africa, to my sponsored child Isa, for his mother to start,a small business to support her family better, in the comin year!Still have 4 projects, to go waiting for the Lord to lead me the rest of the way, he's good at that! And some things we do needs to be kept just between me and the Lord, he likes that too! God Bless everyone who are touching the lives of our fellow brothers and sisters! Peace be with you all! By the way MERRY CHRISTMAS!Thank you ABBA, for the greatest gift of all ( Your Son) Christ our LORD!!!

2009-12-14 09:00:41

A small gift for a young mothe

John & Katharine, 44, north myrtle beach, US

While shopping at our local Walmart my wife noticed a young mother with infant twins, she was obviously stressed out. My wife and daughter gifted her with a free manicure gift certificate and of course the gift revolution.com card. I hope this small gift gives her a much needed break.

2009-12-14 06:35:06

Baby, It's cold outside!

Debbie, 36, North Myrtle Beach, US

I have a job that keeps me outside in the elements and in contact with the public everyday. I have a special place in my heart for others who have the same type of work conditions, as it's hard to keep positive when the rain falls all day or you get hit with negative customers. This past week, we've had some unusual weather... for North Myrtle Beach anyhow. Cold temps and rainy days have had most of us pulling out our heavier coats and umbrellas. Each day, at a local business, I saw a woman outside doing advertising with her signs. She was standing along the roadside, dancing a little & smiling a lot. Along came Friday and it was Cold!! I had been thinking about the gift revolution and it hit me that sometimes we really don't know what a person needs. Most times, I think of giving money, and in these hard times, we usually can't go wrong by offering a few dollars but this particular day, Hot Chocolate came to my mind. Maybe because chocolate is never far from my mind :) I got the biggest cup of hot chocolate that the local convenience store served and dropped it off to her. I didn't have my gift revolution cards with me, but wrote down the website for her and wished her a Merry Christmas. She thanked me many times, and told me how nice it was to be thought of. I love the gift revolution because you can just leave it up to God to show you what to give and to whom to give it. Everyone has a special gift to give and everyone needs a special gift from time to time.

2009-12-13 22:56:55

Daughter received a gift

Amy Gregory, 36, Cottontown, US

I was checking out at our local Fred's store here in Portland, Tn when my daughter ran to me to show me what someone had given her. It was a present wrapped in Christmas paper. I didn't understand why they had given her the gift, but I told the gentleman thank you. It put a big smile on her face to see the gift when she opened it. It was a coloring set and she loved it. I thank him so much for putting a smile on my daughter's face. My husband and I are both out of work and don't know how we will provide Christmas this year. It means a whole lot to see a smile when she received such a thoughtful gift. Thank you once again to the kind man who lit up my daughter's eyes.

2009-12-13 15:38:32

O'Charleys Tip

Mindy, 28, Gallatin, US

Charles and I went to eat at O'Charleys and had a wonderful waitress, so we gave her a generous tip along with a Gift Revolution card.She was so greatful and really expressed it to us!

2009-12-13 12:22:57

UPDATE

Nicole LaBeau, 27, Swartz Creek, Mi, US

UPDATE, read below. So after just 4 or 5 days, this lady was on her way to class and just happened to open her mail. SHe saw the name on front and tossed it on the table, then she thought "maybe I should open it". She opened it and to her surprise was a check in the envelope from financial aid. The weird/funny thing is she was not supposed to get this until March. Our God helps out when we called on him and I believe our prayer is why this happened. She also was able to find a job! GOD BLESS EVERYONE and rememeber to pay it forward, especially during CHRISTmas. UPDATE RE: (Our Pastor gave an envelope with $2 in it to everyone in our congregation as the gift revoulution sermon to pass onto someone in need.) I came into contact with someone the other day who lost her job and was having everything shut off; electricity, heat, ect. She came into where I worked and I just so happen to be able to help her find some info out online and things like that to help. Shortly after that, God spoke to me to give her the $2 packet that my pastor had given me on Sunday. I did and she was so greatful. I know $2 isn't much but that is what I had on me and she was forever greatful for it!

2009-12-13 09:24:05

Helpful co-worker

Amanda, 23, Jacksonville, NC, US

One of my co-workers told me about the Gift Revoloution the other day and, while I thought it was pretty nifty, I promptly forgot about it. Today I was covering for our weekend obit clerk and said co-worker offered to come in and double check since I was freaking out about whether or not I'd done everything right. Once she double checked, she offered to stay until their deadline which, of course, worked great for me. Then she handed me the card... so now it's my turn.

2009-12-12 17:48:22

Passing The Gift Of Love

Kathy, 52, West Plains, MO, US

I received my gift in a laundromat. While I was folding my clothes, a gentleman came in & got change. I didn't realize until I walked past the change machine...he had failed to take his quarters. I grabbed them & was gonna return them to him. I found the card. This came at a time when I really needed to remember that there ARE nice people in the world. I had to take a 100 mile trip to see my specialist in Springfield, MO the next day. I stopped at a convenience store on the way, and put a $10.00 bill on a package of chips. After I got to the Dr office, I noticed a lady that appeared to be in need. Since I had forgotten to leave the card on the chips, I put it with another $10.00 bill, got a paper clip from the receptionist, and left it in the lady's chair when she got up to go to the restroom. This is a wonderful thing that someone has started. I commend whoever came up with the idea.

2009-12-12 17:23:14

The unmarked envelope

darcy, 57, flint, US

I was at work checking in a vendor and I had my back to my desk. So while i was checking in the vendor someone put an envelope on my printer that had my name on it. so I opened the envelope and there ws a fifty dollar bill in it. There was no note no nothing with it just the money. That was how much more i needed to make my car pyment and nobody knew that but me and god. what a great blessing. Thank you god.

2009-12-12 00:51:06

Having FUN!

Matt & Heather Dempski, 38, Little River, US

Our first Gift Revolution gift was to a Salvation Army bell-ringer at Walmart on 501. What an incredible thing to just walk up to her and hand her the card with $ attached and tell her that this was for HER, for her lunch that day! Our second gift went to a homeless woman at Rite Aid on 17 Business in Myrtle Beach. How cool - I just walked up to her and handed her the $. She was so surprised and appreciative!!! And we were just getting started ... Our third gift went to our waitress at Ruby Tuesdays. While we didn't get to see her receive this gift, I can imagine her delight to find a tip plus the gift we left. This might just become a habit! I can hardly wait to give our boys each a card with $ attached and see what they do! :)

2009-12-11 21:21:53

Love and Support of friends

Cheryl M, 47, Longs, US

I'm recovering from back surgery since 10/1/09, being out of work, (I'm a hairdresser), its been a bit difficult to make ends meet. Knowing how its hard for everyone in these economic times, what happened today at my Friday morning Dino's Ladies Breakfast Fellowship Bible group that meets in North Myrtle Beach, SC has so humbled me and surprised me with the show of love from these wonderful ladies. Not only have they stepped up and taken care of my daily needs during my recovery the last couple months, but today they have gifted myself and my husband with paying our electic bill for the next 6 months. Too add to that, I hadn't gone grocery shopping, was getting down to the last pound of hamburger. They had filled a laundry basket of staples which I had needed and they didn't know. God had provided. God is good and I am so blessed by these dear ladies that I can honestly call my sisters in Christ. Thank you, MaryAnn, Brenda, Joy Hilton, Sharon, Nancy, Anne, JoAnn, Alie, Joy Tolbert, and Suzanne. I love all of you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

2009-12-11 19:46:01

A beautiful reflection on what

Carol W, 60, West Plains, US

My card read: "To wish you a holiday with family and friends filled with happiness that never ends. Hope this brightens your Christmas. Yours Truly, Anonymous Santa. My gift included: A musical reindeer, sugar cookies, a box of tea, and two candy canes. I was so surprised when I saw it sitting by my door. I saw it and I thought to myself, "What in the World?!" As I opened it I saw the gift revolution card and it meant even more to me. It meant that someone really thought about me. They actually took the time and thought about me to the point they assembled a package, drove to my home, climbed my front steps and left a packed for me. What an incredible blessing; I am so thankful!

2009-12-11 16:25:30

Minimum Money Required!

Annette Hernandez, 34, Elk Grove Village, US

I was puzzled how my family could contribute to The Gift Revolution. My husband and I brainstormed and came up with the idea of coupons! We normally thorw away lots of coupons for restaurants or products we don't use. So this season, we've been going into random grocery stores and taping coupons on the product and writing a little note wishing people a Merry Christmas and telling them "We were thinking of you! We hope you think of someone too!". This weekend we're going to go to local restaurants and giving a random "winner" a set of coupons for them to use at the restaurant! :) Other little things we do is pay the 80 cent toll for the person behind us. Thanks TGR for inspiriing us to help with the little we have and to make a difference in a tradition that we will continue in the days and months to come!

2009-12-11 11:58:27

We're in this together.

Ronnie Foster, 19, Gallatin, US

Freedom Church's youth group,'theEdge,' went out into the community this past wednesday just to bless people with random acts of kindness. We were each given three dollars and told to use it sparingly. Our group was given the task to do something completely out of the ordinary in our hometown of Gallatin. As we all put our minds together we tried to come up with something truely off the wall that we could do that would be a great story tell. The limit was the twelve bucks we were given to do this task. One of our group members, Ben, spoke up and said why don't we do something nice for one of the local churches around here. And so we decided to take some cookies to a little local Church of God down the road from the square. But that got me thinking about how much our task really ment. So often church on wednesday nites to our youth of today is about who's church is better, and almost a competition between the churches. But it was so very encouraging to hear Ben say that because without words us four teenagers were able to go to another church and say to them 'We're in this fight together, we love you.' And I believe that is exactly what the GiftRevolution is all about. =] -Ronnie

2009-12-11 01:18:11

Something so little

Janie, 53, Palm Bay, US

Today I gave my first TheGiftRevolution gift. I know the person who I gave to appreciated it so much but I believe I got oh so much more from it than she. As I visited my local Walmart to do a little Christmas shopping I stopped to speak with the Salvation Army bell ringer at the door regarding the sudden weather change. She commented on how the warm weather we were having was dehydrating. I continued in, did my shopping and as I was finishing checking out I was reminded of her comments. I added a bottle of cold water to my purchases, took my change and headed to the door. As I passed her way, I stopped dropped the few dollars change I had recieved in her bucket, wished her a Merry Christmas along with the bottle of water and a word of God's blessing on her life. Too often I think we overlook those who stand through the Christmas Season and give of their time to the Salvation Army. I know today I was blessed by her presence and her service to God much more than the small gift I shared with her.

2009-12-11 00:01:25

The Gifted Hair cut

Charles, 31, Gallatin, US

I cut hair on the side and I have been giving free haircuts along with The Gift Revolution cards.

2009-12-10 21:35:28

Our Children are Never to Youn

Jessie Carter, 7, Gallatin, US

Jessie was so inspired by receiting her Gift Revolution cards at Freedon Church in Gallatin, TN, that she couldn't wait to get started. Right after church, she helped an old arthritic lady with her coat and handed her a card. She is really looking for ways to help people. Her $ has gone to benefit the animal shelter. She has added a great twist on the gift giving by asking for donations of pet food which she distributes with cards to the shelters who people adopt pets. She has inspired our whole family to be joyous givers. Marta Carolina

2009-12-10 11:17:27

SmashHunger

Jennifer, 35, Houston, US

Tonight while at our local SmashBurger restaurant a homeless man came in all bundled in in the blanket he most likely called home. He was quietly asking the manager for food. I knew when he walked in I wanted to buy him dinner, and told my best friend my intentions. We discussed with her 7 year old daughter why we were going to buy this homeless man a meal. She didn't understand that he lived on the street, she only understood, in her terms, that he "lived in a box". As I took her hand and we walked up to the front the small line of customers were looking on. I walked up to him and explained that we, Annabelle and I, wanted to buy him a burger. He leaned over, and in a quiet stutter, asked me to buy him a hamburger, fries and a Coke. We were more than happy to. Not one person said a thing when we cut in line to order this man's food, and not one person raised a stink when he wanted to sit in the nice warm restaurant with us to eat the one good hot meal that he had probably had in a long long time. I was excited because I couldn't help this soul to a nice warm bed, but I could make sure he didn't go to sleep hungry. Annabelle was happy that she could tell her Girl Scout troop about her good deed. The manager walked by and mouthed "thank you", and the cashier personally came over to thank us as well. Best $10.25 I've spent all year!!

2009-12-10 02:10:41