The gift of walking…
One of my favorite stories (excerpted from My Christmas Treasury by Norman Vincent Peale) is about a missionary teaching in Africa.
Before Christmas, he had been telling his native students how Christians, as an expression of their joy, gave one another presents on Christ’s birthday.
On Christmas morning, one of the natives brought the missionary a seashell of lustrous beauty. When asked where he had discovered such an extraordinary shell, the native said he had walked many miles to a certain bay, the only spot where such shells could be found.
“I think it was wonderful of you to travel so far to get this lovely gift for me,’ the teacher exclaimed.
His eyes brightening, the native answered,
“Long walk part of gift.”
I believe we sometimes forget to appreciate the “long walk” that someone has made for us in order to present us with their gifts.
The thoughts and the time that someone has spend thinking about us and preparing their gift to us may not be obvious, but you can surely think of someone who has gifted you so richly.
A number of years ago when I was dealing with breast cancer, my sister Fay knit me a beautiful prayer shawl. Her thoughts while knitting it were reflections of love for me, so there was no television watching while she focused on the gift of her time, energy, and love.
Perhaps there is a great Christmas gift we can give to others that are dear to us this Christmas. We can let the special ones in our life know that the steps they have taken in life to bless us are gifts we cherish.
And, perhaps, we can even reciprocate by sharing our
time, energy, and love with them!
So…Fay, thank you for all your gifts:
- your love,
- your time,
- your energy.
Thanks for being in my life!
So friends…
- is there someone you will thank?
- is there someone you will gift with your gifts?
- is there someone you will cherish?
5 Comments
Pat I want to thank you for all your gifts! Since I first met you I have been inspired by you – your attitude toward things, your calmness, your always seeing both sides, your boundless energy, your kindness…..I could go on and on! Please know you are a very dear friend and I cherish all the gifts you have given me, and I know you have made me grow in many ways! Thank you!
Very beautiful Pat. Those were both beautiful stories that you shared! Good thoughts for us to all remember before Christmas! Thank you!
Dee Dee, as you know, I LOVE doing these posts. Finding the stories, the quotes, the images…and sharing them is my passion! I’m glad you enjoy them.
Pat: I have become disappointed with Christmas over the years because it seems it has become so commercial. It is sad to me that the true spirit of Christmas has been forgotten. Your post is a reminder of what the season is all about and I thank you for that. Also, remember that the winter solstice is the return of the light. Yin is at its maximum and it will naturally yield to the ascendance of yang. Amazingly, the dance of nature goes on.
Mary Kay, I love that the dance of nature and of life does go on, whether or not we notice it! So, I guess, noticing it is what creates the sense of being blessed!