The past couple of weeks, my emotions have been really close to the surface, especially at church or other places that I have been able to feel the Spirit. The same Christmas memory comes to my mind and so I thought I would share it with you!
It was the Christmas of 1988, I was in 5th grade. Christmas Eve my dad took me to KMART so I could buy a Christmas gift for my brother David. I picked out this tri-fold wallet mini planner thing. Christmas morning it was my mom, dad, David, and myself. I remember about half-way though opening my presents looking at David and realizing that all he got was a pair of black socks and the wallet I purchased him. The magic of getting presents on Christmas was gone. I didn't want to open any more. I felt a terrible pain in my 10 year old soul, I didn't want to get more presents than him.
Later that day our family met at my sister Inez's house. David gave everyone his present to them. He has spent that year cutting out blocks out of levi's, sewing them together, and tying the quilts. He had made one for all his brothers and sisters, with enough left over to give one to each of his children. Yet, he still had only added a small cactus to his small pile of Christmas gifts. He didn't seem to care, he was happy with the presents that he gave. He wasn't expecting anything in return.
This was David's last Christmas. He died in April of the next year. He had spent a good part of his last year on Earth working on a gift for those he loved most.
His last Christmas left me with an important truth. This time of year is NOT about getting temporal gifts, it is about giving. Every kind of giving. Since then I have stopped making REAL Christmas lists. I really don't care what I get. I am more concerned with others and making sure they have a good Christmas. It is a time to show love to others. It is a time to give service, a time to share the gospel, a time for rejoicing, and a time to look outward and not be selfish.
Christmas since 1988 has lost that magic of childhood, but has gained much more. I am thankful for this gift that I have been given: an understanding of the meaning of this time of year.
April 21-23rd 2017
9 years ago
2 comments:
Thanks for the reminder. Christmas is all about making sure others know they are loved and cared about. What a great lesson to learn at the age of 10. A lot of people take much more time to learn a lesson like that.
Why didn't you tell me to get a tissue first. I wish we all thought like this.
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