Christmas Gifts
I was heartbroken. It wasn’t so much that I was getting no toys. It was the fact that they had forgotten about me. Never in my young life had I felt unloved until that moment. With tears in my eyes I went and got some old toys of mine and some leftover wrapping paper. I had started to wrap them so that I could have something under the tree when my Mom caught me. Taking me in her arms she lovingly explained that I hadn’t been forgotten. They had gotten me presents but had decided to hide them from my prying eyes and fingers until Christmas Day. Looking back now I can’t even remember what I got that year, but I will always remember that reassuring moment in my Mother’s arms. The gift of love she gave me then remains in my heart to this day. It is the gifts of love that are the greatest gifts of all. Jesus’ entire life was a gift of love. As we celebrate His birthday this year then let us all seek to give the gifts of love as well. The gentle hugs, the caring looks, the joyful smiles, and the warm words of love we give will mean more than anything we buy in a store. The time we share, laughter we spread, and kindness we shower on others will live on in their hearts forever. Leo Buscaglia once said that, "Life is God’s gift to you and how you live it is your gift to God." May your gift be a loving one at Christmastime and always. |