By Shannon Mintz
December 16, 2011
There were two little girls who attended the same little school.
They were the same age and grade and about the same height.
They liked dolls and princesses and playing on the swings the best.
But they weren’t the same in everything.
They had different personalities and different favorite subjects.
One liked science and the other history.
One had two brothers and the other a little sister.
One had a mommy and daddy and the other, just a mommy.
These two little girls lived in two different neighborhoods
and in two very different homes –
One with handsome presents under a sparkling tree
and yummy smells of dinner filling many rooms.
And the other lived with many people and little space.
The only thing made of a tree was wood for a single chair.
No dinner roasted in the oven for all to feast,
only potatoes awaited – a common fare.
No presents were seen in shining paper,
only one small gift was wrapped in a discarded newspaper.
It was time to get up and time to go to school.
It was the day of the class Christmas party – the best day of all.
The one little girl picked up the newspaper-covered gift,
and her mommy stated, “That is your Christmas gift.”
She quietly replied, “I know, Mommy. I know,”
and confidently walked out the door.
At school the children all gathered around the Christmas tree
and sang Christmas songs. They laughed, and they smiled.
They played fun games and ate too many delicious Christmas cookies.
It was the best day of all.
Then it was time for the gift exchange,
and each child was excited for what gift he or she would receive.
The one little girl waited with her newspaper-wrinkled gift.
Her name was called, and she walked over to the other little girl
from the big and nice-smelling home.
“This is my Christmas gift. I want you to have it,” she simply said.
The other little girl tore at the newspaper
to uncover a small and handmade, patched Teddy bear.
She responded with a smile and a “thank you.”
“I’ve never had one like this before.”
The one little girl with little at home returned the smile –
For today was the best day of all.
That evening the one little girl who had given her little gift away arrived home.
Her mommy asked, “What did you do with your Christmas gift?
You know, I only had enough money to give you one gift this year.”
“I know, Mommy. I know. But she is my best friend of all…”
Her statement was interrupted by a knock on the door.
And there stood the other little girl with her mommy and daddy.
The other little girl said, “You are the best friend I’ve ever had,
and today you gave me all you had.
Will your family have Christmas dinner with mine?”
And for the other little girl with much at home
that day became the best day of all.
As we are surrounded by Christmas spirit this time of year, Christmas trees and lights and songs and food and – not to be left out – Christmas shopping, extravagance, and wealth, someone asked me if I ever thought about the children who would not get a gift this Christmas? About the parents who couldn’t afford to?
Many children in the U.S. this year will not receive Christmas gifts, but my thoughts also go to South Africa (where I will be serving) where many children, who live in townships, don’t ever receive a single gift, let alone at Christmas. I read a news story the other day about some generous Americans who are paying off strangers’ lay-aways at K-Mart so that these families experiencing economic difficulties will be blessed this Christmas season. As I thought of what to give to others this Christmas, I reflected on how much I already have, and the wealth of things many of us in America are blessed with. But there are families with little; there are children with nothing – here in the U.S. and around the world. I ask myself, what can I learn from these little girls in the above story – that Christmas goes beyond the getting and even the gifts – to the giving from the heart? So what can I give – because I already have so much – in order to bless others?
Many children in the U.S. this year will not receive Christmas gifts, but my thoughts also go to South Africa (where I will be serving) where many children, who live in townships, don’t ever receive a single gift, let alone at Christmas. I read a news story the other day about some generous Americans who are paying off strangers’ lay-aways at K-Mart so that these families experiencing economic difficulties will be blessed this Christmas season. As I thought of what to give to others this Christmas, I reflected on how much I already have, and the wealth of things many of us in America are blessed with. But there are families with little; there are children with nothing – here in the U.S. and around the world. I ask myself, what can I learn from these little girls in the above story – that Christmas goes beyond the getting and even the gifts – to the giving from the heart? So what can I give – because I already have so much – in order to bless others?
What or how can you give – it doesn't have to be Christmas but as a new way of thinking and a new way of living – because you have – to those that have little?
You can demonstrate hope and love to a child and to a family during this New Year of 2012. Maybe they will be blessed, but just maybe your heart will change a little as a result.
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