A reminder about Christmas giving...

I am starting to get Christmas cards in the mail and today...I received my first surprise gift from a Gather member.  I was so excited!  I carefully opened the package to see if a card was inside also.  There was and within the card...I received some more votes for the Christmas contest. Yay!

I wrote a message to the sender thanking them so much for their thoughtfulness and that I hoped they wouldn't mind if I waited until Christmas day to open it, so I could have something to open for Christmas.  In which their reply to me...was for me to understand that what they did for me wasn't much.  That was so sad for me to hear.  Not because the value of the gift wasn't much.  But because this person thought that what they did for me wasn't much.

I know that it's a natural habit for us to say something is "not much" when we give a gift to someone...because deep within our hearts we don't want that person to get their hopes up...to only be disappointed if they don't like what we give them.

But folks...let me share something with you.  Whatever you decide to do for someone...whether it be a card, stocking stuffer, gift, or even a sweet note for Christmas.  It all means something. Nothing should ever be considered "not much."  Personally...I am just thrilled someone thought of me.  Without the generousity and thoughtfulness of people like this Gather member...I wouldn't have a Christmas and neither would a lot of other folks.

Now...except for me needing money to be able to stay in my home, pay my bills and have a decent car to drive.  I am probably more blessed than many when it comes to material things.  I have had good jobs in the past and the Lord has blessed me.  Now that doesn't mean I don't like getting new things and/or being surprised...because I do.  I live alone and being thought of by someone else...especially around a holiday like Christmas is thrilling to me!

I never look at the value of the gift someone gives to me as being the most significant part.  It's the fact that someone went out of their way to think of me, that makes me feel so special. So...if you have been thinking about blessing someone and are afraid that they might think that what you did for them is "not much."  Don't let that stop you.  Because if they are anything like me... they will be thrilled someone even took the time to remember them.  Just like what happened to me today!

Every gift you give is special and precious to someone.  Whether you made it or bought it from a store.  I know for myself...because of my financial situation, I can't do much either.  That's why I am going around the house, trying to find things I never got around to using and seeing what I can do to be a blessing.  It may or may not be what someone needs exactly...but I am sure the element of surprise will be more of a gift to them...than the gift itself.

So...go ahead and be a blessing to someone if it's in your heart to do it.  And don't worry about the fact that what you may or may not do for that special someone, will be worth much or not. Because in the grand scheme of things...  It's worth much more than you will ever know!