Gifts of Love

I remember the Christmas when I was 8 or 9 years old... We had just moved to Abilene from another little town. Didn't know hardly anyone yet as we had moved after the school year started. I don't remember if we had a live tree that year... I think it was mom's poor little plastic and wooden artificial one... which looked sadly a lot like Charlie Brown's little project... sparse needles and a crooked trunk in the middle... Anyway, it didn't matter. To three sisters itching to decorate for Christmas with anything they could find, the tree was a source of fun and enjoyment as we laughed and strung lights, tinsel, popcorn, paper chains, handmade ornaments and bright red bows from hankies all over the 4 foot disaster. We smiled in triumph as the paper angel with glitter wings was placed atop our joyful project. Mom smiled and said it was wonderful.
We didn't have much money at all that year. I remember mom hoping we had enough to cover the rent and the bills. So we decided to give one another presents with what we had.
My oldest sister surprised me by making up my bed. I was never an organized bedmaker, nor a tidy space keeper on my half of the bedroom. So dear Pam made the bed and organized all my stuff finding a place for everything. I walked in and saw it and caught my breath. Ohhhhhhhh! Wow! Did you do this? Thank you! It looks great!
My younger sister set out making all of us a snack. We had a huge old pecan tree in the back yard, so she went out and gathered up a little sandbox bucket of pecans. I got the pecan cracker and helped her shell them and made sure they were all clean with no shells left. Amanda got a couple of apples from a basket of fruit somebody had given us and sliced them neatly into bite sized wedges. Then she arranged these on 4 plates so each person would have their own, and we enjoyed that snack more than any other before or since.
I made everyone necklaces out of beads and string. We laughed and wore our silly wild necklaces, snacking on pecans and apple slices, sitting on our beds and then sang Christmas songs around the homely tree feeling very much loved and thankful for times of sharing and caring.
Christmas was never so lovely as when we had so little and learned to share what we had and give something we could make with our hands.
And in all the Christmases since, no presents were ever as lovely nor meaningful than those we made from the little we had on hand and gave of ourselves to each other.
In all our years since my sisters have often talked of that one Christmas with fondest memories.
We shared something that day no money could ever match nor exceed.
Gifts of love.
May you give these this Chistmas.
And may you be returned these as well.
Love to you and yours.
Merry Christmas