The Christmas lists grew every
year and when they stopped growing in number of items, they grew in how much
the gifts cost. It wasn’t just a ten
dollar action figure anymore, but a ninety dollar remote control car. Then it became “If you only get me one thing
this year, I would love” some two hundred dollar gizmo. My children have lived with me since they
were born. They’ve watched as we had
plenty and when we had nothing.
Furthermore, they know how I feel about gifts. I’m never buying just one thing and I will
never be able to spend over two hundred on a gift. Still, they think it’s worth a shot, I guess,
and so they keep asking. It is, after
all, the season for it.
The one thing I will say about my
kids is that they are never disappointed.
Or if they are, they hide it very well, because all I see is the
appreciation on their faces for what they did get. If anyone is disappointed, it’s usually me at
not being able to get them everything they really wanted. I’ve listened to people grumble about what
they received and for a while I just shrugged my shoulders and ignored it. We all receive those gifts occasionally that
make us wonder what in the world the person was thinking when they picked that
out for us. Still, we make all the right
noises and quickly add it to the garage sale box.
However, about twelve years ago,
I began to see Christmas just a little differently. That year, I joined a mission trip to Haiti to
pass out Christmas shoe boxes to the students in their three schools. People put together a package for either a
boy or a girl and filled it with all manner of things to brighten a child’s
Christmas. It has been a great tradition
started by several ministries and I was excited to be a part of it that
year.
All the children were gathered
together and one by one they came up and were handed a pretty wrapped shoe box.
Everyone returned to their seats and
patiently waited to open the lids and see what some person who didn’t even know
them had sent. The count was called out. One. Two.
Three. Open Your Boxes! The place erupted with squeals of delight as
lids were tossed to the side and tiny items were brought out and bragged about
to those within earshot.
I just sat and smiled. “Look what I got!” I heard it over and over as each new item was
brought forth. Small cars. Balls.
Jacks. One little boy received underwear
that he thought was the best gift ever as he twirled them over his head with
excitement. Each of the gifts could have
been purchased at a dollar store and it seemed as if most were. Yet, the kids didn’t care. These were precious treasures to them and for
most, it was the only gift they would receive all year. These children hadn’t made Christmas lists to
Santa. I’m not even sure they knew of
that jolly old man. They didn’t know to
be disappointed by what they held in their tiny hands. All they knew was that someone thought of
them and provided a little Christmas magic.
Those are the eyes through which
I view Christmas - the eyes of appreciation.
I am thankful that I was thought of by someone I love, that they took
the time to search out a gift that they thought would mean something to
me. I’m not one to feel guilty that I
was born in a country and to a family that is successful. I’ve never told my kids to eat their
vegetables because in some Third World Country some kid was starving. Just
because someone is suffering doesn’t mean we who are not should feel guilty or
eat foods we don’t like. It does,
however, mean we should receive everything with a spirit of thankfulness and
appreciation. So this year, if your Aunt
Martha buys you underwear again, just twirl them over your head and squeal with
delight. She’ll appreciate that.
*
* * * *
I know of those kinds of missions. I can't thank you enough for posting this.
ReplyDeleteJo
It was a great experience! I plan on writing a series based on it next year. Thanks for visiting!
DeleteLuv your outlook on this. Merry Christmas. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Nike!
DeleteI can only imagine how amazing an experience it must have been. If only more could have their eyes opened to "the world." My view is if I do a little every chance I can, then maybe it makes a larger impact in the long run. So I do what I can ever opportunity I have to contribute. I can't go there but there's no price on caring.
ReplyDeleteBravo, Robbie. You are a real treasure. And I always cheered for my pjs and slippers. Every year. :)
Thank you for your kind words. And you are very right. Whenever we can do even a little, it can have such a great impact. A little is sometimes all it takes to change someone's life. Thanks for stopping by :)
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