A Gift That Lasts
By Cooper, Mabel, and Bettina Jobe
Give a fish and hunger fades.
Teach the hands and lives are changed.
This holy season, we are called
To give in ways that lift us all—
A garden starts with just one seed,
A helping hand, a caring deed.
Not only for a single day,
But for the years that stretch away.
Through Gifts for Life, our giving grows:
In seeds and tools, in skills bestowed.
A bike to ride from home to home,
So helpers travel, not alone.
A goat, a cow, some chickens too,
Milk and eggs and futures new.
In fruit trees planted, strong and wise,
With mango, banana, and other surprise.
A hive that hums, sweet honey made,
A classroom bright where fear can fade.
In mothers cared for, babies fed,
In water clean, in hopes widespread.
In learning sparked, in labor shared,
In dignity restored through care.
We give with joy, and in our view,
The children’s art shines bright and true.
Small hands creating, spirits brave,
A lasting gift of love we save.
May what we give continue on,
Long after Christmas lights are gone.
A lasting gift from open hearts—
This is where the harvest starts.
Give today, and help a family thrive far beyond the season.
Giving That Carries Forward
The children at Old Mill Creek Schoolhouse at NL Headquarters wanted their holiday generosity to live past Christmas morning, to meet real needs, and to support families in ways that last. Through a partnership with Episcopal Relief Fund’s Gifts for Life program and St. Cecilia’s Round Top, that hope has finally taken shape.
Through this outreach, donors can support families with life-giving resources like livestock or beehives that provide nourishment and income long after the holidays have passed. In return, donors receive a small keepsake featuring a child’s artwork from Old Mill Creek Schoolhouse. It is a simple token that holds two stories at once – a family supported with dignity, and a child who learned that generosity can create lasting change.
If you’d like to take part, we invite you to share in the generosity these children have been shaping so thoughtfully. Visit this page to see how it all works.