“Blessing Gives,” Friend, Dec. 2026, 34–35.
Illustrations by Jessica Gibson. May be copied for Church use only.
Blessing Gives
There were so many people in the world she could help!
A true story from Kenya.
Blessing zipped up her jacket and bounced up and down. It was a bright December morning, and she was excited.
“We’re going to see something very special,” Dad said as they got into the car.
“Special? Like . . . a Christmas surprise?” Blessing asked.
Mom smiled. “Something like that,” she said. “It’s called a Giving Machine kiosk. When we get there, you’ll see how you can use it to help people who need a little extra love this Christmas.”
As they drove through the busy city streets, Blessing imagined what the machine might be like. She hoped it was big! And magical.
Soon they arrived at a large building. When they walked inside, there were sparkling Christmas lights and red and white balloons. There were signs too. Blessing read one of the signs: “Give a Gift. Share a Smile.”
Then Blessing saw the Giving Machine kiosk. It was a big, red box with a screen and a glass door that showed things you could buy. It looked kind of like the vending machine where Blessing sometimes used coins to buy snacks at the mall.
A kind helper waved to them. “Hello! Would you like to donate?” She led them to the machine and pointed to the pictures inside the glass. “You choose an item you want to give, then pay the donation into the machine. All of your donation goes to help families who need it.”
Blessing looked up at all the options inside the machine. There were pictures of food, books, school supplies, and clothing. Then she looked at Mom and Dad.
“Go ahead,” Dad said. “You get to choose what to give.”
Blessing looked at the pictures and thought some more. Then she tapped the screen. “I want to buy school supplies for kids who need them.”
Mom helped Blessing put some money into the machine to pay for the school supplies. The machine whirred and printed a colorful receipt.
“Thank you so much!” the helper said. “Every gift, no matter how small, can make a big difference.”
Blessing felt like her heart was shining. She had actually helped someone! She smiled big and gave Mom a hug.
“See?” Mom asked. “Christmas isn’t just about getting gifts. It’s about celebrating Heavenly Father’s greatest gift—our Savior. We do that by giving, sharing, and helping others.”
As they drove home, Blessing looked out the car window at the busy streets. Colorful minibuses honked, street vendors sold roasted maize, and children ran around with colorful kites. There were so many people in the world that she could help!
“I want to do more good things this Christmas,” she told Mom and Dad. “Maybe we can help our neighbors. Or give food to children who don’t have enough.”
“That’s a great idea,” said Dad. “And that’s the true spirit of Christmas! The Savior’s light shines brightest in our lives when we give to others.”
As Blessing snuggled into bed that night, she felt a warm glow in her heart. The bright city lights outside seemed to twinkle just for her, and she whispered a little prayer. “I thank Thee, Heavenly Father, for helping me learn to give. Please help me share Jesus’s love and light every day.”