I celebrate and give thanks for the light my friend brings into the world and the love she so freely shares – the true meaning of Christmas.
On Tuesday morning I came into the office, turned on the computers, checked the emails and checked the drop box at the Queen street door. It was there that I found the gift that brought tears to my eyes and such warmth to my soul. An envelope with my name on it and the name of the sender. Inside, a card with these words
“Just when you think Christmas can’t get any better…. In the mail comes a secret pal letter!”
and a $25 gift card to Petro Canada. At the bottom of the card was written –
“God Bless you and thanks.”
The Gift – I Will Pay It Forward
The card and the gift were the most expensive and precious gift I have received.
In the gospel of Luke 21 we read these words “And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. So, He said, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; For all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.”
These are the words that came to mind for me as I opened my gift. You see, the person who offered it has nothing, at least not from a material perspective and there have been a number of occasions over the last 9 years that she has come to the church for help. She struggles from day to day to meet her bills and live her life. Yet she is also one of the wealthiest people I know. She has an abundance of gratitude, a deep and abiding faith, a smile that can light the room and a heart filled with love.
As I gazed at my gift, there was a part of me that wanted to give it back for I knew that this was something that she could not afford. However, I also knew that this was something that brought her great joy in doing. So, I will pay it forward. There are always people who call the church in need and her gift will be given again when the time is right.
Today I celebrate and give thanks for the light my friend brings into the world and the love she so freely shares. This is the true meaning of Christmas.
Blessings
Valerie
© 2020 Rev. Valerie Peyton Kingsbury. All rights reserved.