×

Christmas isn’t really about wish lists, gifts

After my younger daughter came home from school with a Christmas wish list, I was fairly quick to tell her this wasn’t what Christmas was about.

I was so moved by our conversation that I wrote “My Dear Child.” Some people saw this letter and were quite moved by this. These people believed it should be published. Here is the letter:

My dear child,

I’ll bet by now, you are really beginning to wonder what you will be getting for Christmas. Well, I am beginning to wonder also. I am glad you have a Christmas list. Everybody should have a dream!

However, Christmas is about the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It is about how Jesus was born in a manger in a stable, many years ago in Bethlehem.

He was born to die, and take our sins away. Christmas is a time for giving and should not be thought of as a time for receiving big elaborate gifts.

I think that we need to approach the Christmas season with the humbleness of being content with what God has already given us.

True enough; human nature will always allow us to want more. Especially at Christmas time, I feel we should feel fulfillment with things we have already been blessed with.

The idea of finding a few very special things under the Christmas tree should be a feeling of overwhelming surprise and not a feeling of expectation!

I feel that the specialness of knowing we have rich blessings bestowed on us by God and believing we have the capacity to take full advantage of these blessings will make Christmas much more meaningful.

Opening our hearts and minds up to the needs of others will make Christmas a time of remembering the true meaning God intends for Christmas.

Something very special happens when so much importance is placed upon giving and helping those whom we may or may not be aware of as being less fortunate than we are.

It seems the things we feel are so important for us to have do not really have the same values as they originally had.

May all of God’s love you feel radiate and be transmitted outwardly to embrace all who come within your reach as you travel through life.

As you wrap Christmas gifts, sing Christmas songs and help to decorate our Christmas tree, may the true meaning of this blessed season remain in your heart always.

May the idea of it being more blessed to “give than to receive” have a particularly warmer special meaning now more than ever before.

Remember, a special part of inner happiness is giving, not necessarily receiving.

Merry Christmas to you, my dear child. May your life always be touched enough by what God has given you that you and your life will shine in a special way for all to see!

With love always, Mom.

Sue Herwat

Gassaway.

This letter from 1996 is from the unpublished book “Unexpected Treasures.”

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $3.92/week.

Subscribe Today