#spiritofchristmas Christmas is upon us. Today I would like to talk about the spirit of Christmas and giving. Let us go back 40 years to December of 1983. I was living in a charming town of 15,000 named Albany, West Australia. It sat right on the Indian Ocean. It had once been a whaling village. My marriage had broken up. I was almost broke and alone. Christmas looked to be a sad day. Len and Eve Lees came to visit me. They brought me a Christmas gift, "a tin of biscuits” (For those who do not speak British English this means a metal box full of delicious Christmas cookies.) My whole day brightened up. I became happy. I shall treasure the memory of this act of kindness as long as I live. Yesterday morning I drove through a driving rain to get to the swimming pool for my morning workout. I went into the pool and found friends swimming there. One friend named Janis gave me a small Christmas gift. It was a bag full of caramel popcorn that she made herself. I was both touched and surprised. Later in the afternoon, one of our readers, John Peterson, showed up at the house. He had a small bag with some walnuts and homemade jam for Elena and me. I was equally touched. This year I gave Elena a handmade Japanese Christmas card with a special message of love for her. She went to work using her incredible skills in photography to make a touching memorial to my four high school friends who were killed in Vietnam. You do not have to spend a lot of money on gifts for those who you care about. Something simple, thoughtful, and from the heart is better.
invite response
Len and Eve Lees came to visit me. They brought me a Christmas gift, "a tin of biscuits” (For those who do not speak British English this means a metal box full of delicious Christmas cookies.) My whole day brightened up. I became happy. I shall treasure the memory of this act of kindness as long as I live.
Yesterday morning I drove through a driving rain to get to the swimming pool for my morning workout. I went into the pool and found friends swimming there. One friend named Janis gave me a small Christmas gift. It was a bag full of caramel popcorn that she made herself. I was both touched and surprised. Later in the afternoon, one of our readers, John Peterson, showed up at the house. He had a small bag with some walnuts and homemade jam for Elena and me. I was equally touched.
This year I gave Elena a handmade Japanese Christmas card with a special message of love for her. She went to work using her incredible skills in photography to make a touching memorial to my four high school friends who were killed in Vietnam.
You do not have to spend a lot of money on gifts for those who you care about. Something simple, thoughtful, and from the heart is better.