A Christmas Card

Many of us receive and send out Christmas cards. They are a great and simple way of keeping in touch with our friends and family. Many times these days, with the advent of digital photography and printing, we can even send out pictures of our friends and family.

Now, I’ll be the first to admit that oftentimes, the cards come in, stack up, and I really don’t pay a ton of attention as to whom they are from.

I received a card from a friend of mine the other day, however, that really made me pause.

You see, this friend of mine owns a small country store in an area that is in many ways depressed economically. He has struggled to make it with this store ever since he opened the doors, as there has never really been a high enough volume of business to really make it profitable. Add to this that my friend is not originally from this country, and doesn’t speak fluent English, and well, you’re probably getting the picture that its been an uphill battle for him.

Most days, since he really cannot afford to pay for any real hired help, he has to work the store himself, open to close. The hours are so very long, and I’m sure that most days he arrives home completely exhausted, and spent from another day of toiling seemingly for not much.

And, yet, this man who doesn’t have much in the way of material wealth and who has even less in the way of time, found the time to send me a Christmas card this year. The card didn’t say much, just a heartfelt appreciation of my friendship, and his signature. And yet, this relatively simple card meant probably as much or more than any Christmas card I’ve ever received.

It meant a lot because I know this man has very little to give, except his appreciation for his friends. And, I know that pains him, because he’d love to be in a position where he can give more. But, no gift, no matter what the price tag or how fantastic it might be, would ever really top the gift of this simple Christmas card he mailed to me.

He took the time to do it, because it was really all he could give: His time. And, it meant so much to me, because in spite of the fact that he can’t afford to give much at all, he gave what is most important, and most limited to him…namely, his time to remember me.

How often do we agonize over finding the perfect give during Christmas for a loved one or friend? Plenty. And yet, its often the simplest of gifts, at least on the surface, that make the most impact.

It’s a smile to someone who is down, when we don’t really feel like smiling. It’s our time, when we feel like we have none to give. It’s a friendly word to a friend who is down on their luck, when we ourselves need a friendly word. It’s listening to your spouse or loved one talk about their troubles, when what you really need is a shrink to hear yours.

These are all truly gifts, and gifts we can all give one another. They’re free insomuch as there isn’t any real monetary value associated with them. But, they do cost sometimes, because we may not feel all that giving when we are called upon to do so.

When we give of our time, love, and energy, what we are really demonstrating is God’s love for us all. God wants us to love one another; perhaps above all else he wants that for us. When we take the time to do this, I know He’s smiling somewhere.

So, think you have nothing to give this Christmas season? Go buy your friend a Christmas card, and send it. You have no idea the impact it will make.

I sure was surprised.

-The Minister