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Tuesday 8 December 2015

The Gift of Giving


A very gifted Sunday School teacher came up with an inspired idea to teach her class the importance of giving at Christmas time.  I was asked to participate.  Mrs. A had carefully thought out her lesson plan so that it would be sure to be a success.  She had a box of new candy canes from the store.  She made some bookmarks with the story behind the candy cane, then tied it with a ribbon to each of the 14 white and red striped candy canes. She gave the lesson to her one eager student, Tricia (not her real name) since the rest of her students were away that day. While Tricia and I were assembling the candy cane and bookmark, she explained what the candy cane means.  I wasn't aware of the legend behind the candy cane.  Here it is:



The shape is the same as the shepherd's staff, signifying the shepherds in the fields who saw the star the night Jesus was born, and Jesus is the gentle Shepherd of our soul. Turn it upside down and it is a "J" shape standing for Jesus.  The peppermint signifies the spice, one of the regal gifts given to Jesus by the wise men.  The red is the sacrifice of Jesus shedding His blood for us.  The white is purity, the way He makes our heart clean when we are forgiven of our sins.



So while the service in our church went on, Mrs. A., Tricia and I went downtown and Mrs. A gave Tricia the basket of candy canes. We looked for random individuals to give the candy canes to.  We started out in the parking lot of a large grocery store.  With each surprised person we approached, Tricia explained to him or her that she was learning the true meaning of Christmas, and that was giving.  Then she handed them the candy cane.  One middle-aged man who looked stressed and troubled smiled and said to her, "You made my day!"  Who knows what kind of day many of these people were having, or what kind of struggles they were battling?  Some people tried to give Tricia some money, but Mrs. A, said no thanks, this is a lesson about giving! We could tell Tricia was really enjoying herself and she even commented early on how much fun she was having.  



We went back to the Sunday School room and Mrs. A had one candy cane put aside for Tricia that had broken, and gave it to her. But by this time, Tricia had experienced the real joy - and that was in the giving, not so much the receiving.



As for me, something happened in my heart and the stress of the season seemed to melt away with each person we met who were surprised by this small act of kindness.  Such a small and precious act of kindness that has likely changed the life of a little girl, and certainly touched the heart of everyone who received from her.



Sometimes giving can seem overwhelming as pressures mount in deciding what to give our loved ones and friends for Christmas.  But I am reminded of this verse in the Bible:



2 Cor 9:7  Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.



If we are not cheerful in the giving, perhaps it is not the right gift to the right person.  Gifts do not have to be elaborate, for even the smallest kindness to someone not expecting anything at all can be the greatest gift of all.