So Easy to Give...

There is a wonderful story of a young boy in Africa who had learned about why we celebrate Christmas from a young missionary. Christmas day came and the boy presented his teacher with a gift. It was an incredibly beautiful shell. She asked him where he had found such an exquisite specimen. He told her of the cove that he had retrieved it from. She recognized this was several miles away. The boy told her - the journey was part of his gift. It was his personal sacrifice for his friend. I was so touched by this story, because my greatest joy is in giving the perfect gift. It is in the smile of the recipient where I find my joy. C.S. Lewis said "Nothing is really ours until we share it." How true that is. In the sharing is a wonderful bond that is grown between two.

Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7

We all have dreams of giving grand gifts to others, but often we don't have the means to carry out our desire...but there is so very much we can do.... it is in the little things. A gift of little favorite things tells another that you took time and were thinking of them... pictures taken and placed in a handmade frame...the gift of thought and labor. This year I encourage you to make a sacrifice in order to give to another and show that you care. I am doing the same... for afterall, we celebrate the birth of the One Who gave All for you and I.