The Gift

Tis the season of gift giving.  Anyone who truly knows me knows that this is the season of my love language. My love language is gift giving…but not necessarily receiving gifts.  Giving gifts is my jam.  (Does anyone say that anymore?) Giving is what makes my heart tick.  I love giving gifts…so Christmas is super fulfilling for me.

At the beginning of my teaching career, I taught in a very poor area.  My students came from families who didn’t have much.  I loved every hug and smile I received, because that was the most precious gift I could ever receive.  (This is still true today.  The most precious gifts my students give me are smiles, hugs, high fives, fist bumps, etc.)

It was Christmas time during my first year of teaching.  Working where I did, I didn’t expect to be given any tangible items.  A precious student walked in and handed me a gift, very obviously wrapped by them.  They were so proud as they handed me this precious parcel.  When I asked if I should wait to open it, the student emphatically shook their head no.  Sensing how proud this student was of this gift, I obliged and opened the package on the spot.

As soon as I opened the gift, tears came to my eyes.  I didn’t want the student to see, so I tried my best to hold it together.  What I had opened was a light bulb that the student had painted red.  I taught Kindergarten, so you can imagine what the paint job probably looked like. As I finished unwrapping this gift, I looked at my student.  This student stood, beaming ear to ear, as they asked me if I liked it.  All I could muster up, without completely losing it, was a huge hug and saying that I absolutely loved the gift.  The student bounced away, bragging to everyone about the gift, and I turned my back to wipe my eyes.

This student gave all they had to give.  I was humbled that this precious child had chosen me to give this gift to.  I proudly displayed the light bulb on my desk, and enjoyed listening to the other students say how cool the gift was.  The student who had given me the light bulb was on cloud nine all day.

Now, unfortunately, the light bulb got broken when I moved schools.  However, the memory of the light bulb is forever etched into my mind.

Giving gifts isn’t about how fancy or expensive something is.  It is the thought and heart behind it. This child wanted to give me something to show that they loved me.  They didn’t have to, but they desired to.

So, as we enter into the next few days of gift giving, I hope you are blessed with gifts from the heart.  Gifts that someone put thought into.  Gifts that are meant just for you.  I hope you receive the equivalent of a red painted light bulb.

Merry Christmas from my family to yours.