CHRISTMAS JOYFUL GIVING
*Give TIME For Your Loved Ones*
In 1995, a brother, and his sister, decided to revive the spirit of
Christmas' past and exchange gifts. She was doing well financially,
he wasn't. She was a prominent accountant at a large corporation,
and he, though older than his sister was still establishing himself
in his career.
On Christmas Day, he was simultaneously excited and heart broken when he opened her present - 1996 season tickets to all the San Diego Chargers home games. He was excited because it was a great gift and he was an avid sports fan. He was heart broken because he knew what was in the box she was about to unwrap - two pot holders.
He watched the disappointment on her face when she searched under the pot holders to see if she missed something - she hadn't, the pot holders was it.
Later, he caught a private moment with his sister and confessed his embarrassment. She handled it graciously. "Considering your income, we gave comparable gifts," she said, "besides, the way the Chargers have been playing lately, its not so great a gift anyway." They laughed, but he wanted to make it up to her.
He spent his spare time over the next few weeks going through boxes in his parent's attic. On her birthday in mid-January, he presented a scrap book to her as a birthday present. Inside was pictures of them as children, growing up together. The cover bore the title, "The greatest Christmas Present I Ever Received."
Inside the cover, he attached a note. It said that though the football tickets were great presents, the greatest Christmas present he ever received was his little sister, who he loves very much - Happy Birthday!
The pot holders, we'll have to agree was a pretty lame gift. But the photo album - priceless! It was a gift of time.
One of the best gifts this CHRISTMAS? the gift of TIME.... priceless. timeless!