His eyes welled with tears as he opened the envelope. The gift was the
most unselfish act he'd ever witnessed.
Harry* was about to
experience the most agonizing Christmas of his life. A few months before
he had taken out a consolidation loan. The loan seemed like the right
approach to his family's financial situation. With a lower interest rate
than he was currently paying to his separate creditors, this loan would
let him pay them off quicker than if he kept going the direction he was
traveling. So with his wife's blessing he signed the paperwork and began
paying the monthly payment.
Life seemed good for Harry. His job
was rewarding, secure, and paid an honorable salary -- enough for his
family to live on comfortably. He planned to keep doing what he enjoyed
for many years to come. But life changed suddenly. He noticed his wife
was changing. She associated with a different set of friends, worked
longer hours, frequented places she shouldn't, and became more distant
in the process.
Harry was concerned but never imagined what he
would hear one day when his wife called him into the bedroom. "I don't
love you anymore," she whispered. And then topped this news off by
admitting to an affair with a mutual friend. What seemed like a safe and
cozy world immediately shattered into a million pieces. He couldn't form
a thought. His mind raced in hundreds of different directions. Anger
mixed with sadness. A thousand questions entered and exited his mind
before he could answer them.
Failed attempts at reconciliation
eventually led to their separation and eventual divorce. Harry was left
with two teenage children and bills he couldn't pay. Not only had his
wife walked away from him, she had also walked away from their mutual
responsibilities. His family disintegration also led to the loss of his
once secure job. The only employment available to him paid a mere
pittance of what he had once earned. Bills lagged farther behind, one of
which was the consolidation loan he had taken out just months before the
bad news broke. He struggled to make the payment -- and thus far had, but
he knew the day was rapidly approaching when he wouldn't be able to find
the funds anymore.
December arrived, and with it the prospect of
meager presents, mounting bills, and one that would go unpaid -- his
consolidation loan. In spite of his depressed mood, Harry agreed to
continue his traditional Christmas celebration with his parents,
siblings, and their families. For a number of years, the family had made
a practice of sitting in a circle, having the grandchildren pass out
presents, and then one by one open and display their presents for the
others to adore. Everyone understood why Harry didn't have any gifts to
share this year, but the pile lying at his feet was monumental
nevertheless. One was a simple white envelope that read, "To Dad, From
Goof (his facetious nickname for his daughter)."
Harry's
curiosity tempted him to open the envelope first, but his daughter
warned him this present was the last one he could open. Reluctantly, he
opened his other presents one by one, but the enjoyment he would have
normally got from opening them was trumped by his anticipation over what
was in the envelope.
Finally, the envelope was the only gift
remaining. Carefully, he tore through the scotch tape that held it
securely shut. As he carefully ran his fingers into the envelope and
extracted the contents, a bundle of money fell into his lap. He counted
it and discovered the exact amount needed to make his loan payment. His
teenage daughter who worked three part time jobs while attending high
school had saved enough to help him do what he couldn't have done
otherwise. Never before had he received a gift like this one.
But Harry's gift -- as unselfish as it was, pales in comparison to a
greater gift given almost 2,000 years ago. Angels announced this
offering to shepherds living in the fields. "Suddenly, an angel of the
Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord's glory
surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them.
'Don't be afraid!' he said. 'I bring you good news that will bring great
joy to all people. The Savior -- yes, the Messiah, the Lord -- has been born
today in Bethlehem, the city of David!'" (Luke 2:9-11 NLT)
Harry was
reluctant to accept his daughter's gift even though he needed it
desperately. She had worked so hard for this money and could have used
it to purchase things she wanted. But he honored her unselfishness by
slipping it into his pocket and giving her a big hug followed by an "I
love you."
God's gift was extremely unselfish as well. He gave it
with no strings attached. All we must do is willingly accept it, slip it
into our hearts, and he'll do the rest by letting the results of our
acceptance change our lives and the lives of others.
*Name
changed to protect the individual's privacy.
The Christmas Gift
From:
"Illustrator" <a2p@PROTECTED>
Date:
December 21st 2014
Today's Bible Verse:
"Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's
friends." (John 15:13)
The Christmas Gift
Announcement:
What precious gift have you planned to demonstrate your love towards Jesus?
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