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Christmas Letters
By Melanie
Hoffman
I was quite shocked when my dad
told me we were going to do Christmas different last year. “Instead of
presents, we are going to give letters to each other this year, telling how
much we appreciated one another,” said my dad. The Lord had been speaking to
my dad’s heart; we needed to change how we do Christmas. To be honest, I
didn’t like the idea much at the time, because I liked getting presents.
However, I did like the idea that we would give the money we would have spent
for presents to organizations that help people. We decided to keep the
stockings, which I was quite thankful for. All of us worked busily on our
letters, trying to get them done before Christmas. We put them in gift bags
with tissue paper or we could wrap them however we wanted, as long as they
looked nice (mom made that clear), and put them under the tree.
Just before heading for bed, I
stole one last look at the lighted and heavily decorated Christmas tree.
There, snuggly underneath the tree, wrapped in various designs of Christmas
paper, stood the letters. It looked so beautiful and peaceful. Then, looking
over at the fireplace, our nativity scene on top of the rough brick, the
rainbow of color from our tree sparkled and shined against the porcelain
figurines. The sheep and cattle were in their stables, the shepherds and the
wise men were worshipping, while Mary and Joseph just gazed down at baby
Jesus. Tears of joy filled my eyes as I said “I love you Lord.” Then I slipped
quietly off to bed.
Morning came; Joshua, as always,
was up before anyone else. Sleeping sounded better this year than it did last
year, but Joshua made sure the rest of us eventually got up. He was talking
excitedly about the bulging stockings. When we entered the room, I saw the
stockings were indeed very full, looking like they might explode. Joshua and I
both felt all the stockings, my brothers soon joined us, making guesses at
what might be inside. But before the stockings or letters could be opened,
breakfast had to be eaten. After we tried to rush through breakfast and
cleaned up the kitchen, our family headed for the living room to open the
gifts.
We did the stockings first (our
tradition). Inside there were all sorts of nice, little gifts. Next, we opened
the letters. As I read my letters, my eyes were filling with tears. The
letters were filled to the brim with love. The letters were all equally
special in different ways. What each person thought and appreciated in you was
written. They were so encouraging, knowing that they loved you no matter what
you did. There wasn’t a dry eye in whole living room. There was great joy and
love flowing through the room; I wish everyone could have felt the way I did.
No pictures were taken, but it didn’t matter. You couldn’t have captured the
love and joy. The living room was shining bright from the morning sun,
although it seemed brighter than normal, like Jesus was smiling down on us. I
am sure He was. We had been given the true joy of Christmas, which we all get
when we are faithful followers of Jesus.
To some, getting letters and
stockings for Christmas may not seem desirable. This year, I too struggled
with the thought if getting letters and stockings, but once I prayed and dug
the letters out again and read them, I wondered why I wanted presents. The
memories came back to me, tears of joy filled my eyes, and I was touched by
those letters, I realized that I wouldn’t give up those letters for any
presents. The presents compared to the letters seem meaningless and hollow.
Giving the money we used for presents to other people who need it more then I
do is something that Jesus would do. Also, it gives you joy to help those less
fortunate than yourself. The presents I had received in the past were fun for
a short time, but soon they became stuff cluttering up my room. The letters
will always be treasured within my heart for all of my life. Every time I pull
the letters out in the years to come, I think there will always be the smiles,
the tears, the love, and the joy that was felt on that beautiful Christmas
day.
Merry Christmas! Copyright ©
2003 by Melanie Hoffman
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