by David R.
Vaughn
Christmas is over, and our church has taken down
and packed away the beautiful ornaments and decorations for next year --
all except for one tree that is in our old fellowship hall. I noticed it a
couple of days ago. It looks sad just standing there in the corner of the
large room. Under it are still some presents decorated with brightly
colored paper and beautiful bows. Each package has a name on it, but the
room has been used for several Christmas parties, by both church members
and outside groups, and I do not know the persons to whom the presents
were presented.
I pass by this tree and its presents under it each morning to get coffee.
I wonder about these unclaimed gifts. I wonder what is inside the boxes.
Maybe they are gifts that are meant to bring joy and a smile to the
receiver. Maybe they are items very much needed. Maybe they contain a
message of love and hope that someone needs badly.
But the persons may never know what has been given them, for they have
never claimed their presents and opened them. How sad! Hopefully we can
find these persons, but it is sad to know that Christmas has passed, and
beautiful gifts go unknown and unopened.
To each of us are beautiful gifts presented. They are not under anyone's
Christmas tree, but they are gifts that we may have not claimed nor
opened. They are awaiting our accepting them. They are the gift of
unconditional love from our God, they are the gift of inner peace that
many need so much, they are the gift of friendship, support, strength,
compassion, and understanding from Parkinson's persons who give themselves
to you and me, they are the gifts of self-worth and self-love.
How sad in January to see beautiful presents selected and placed under a
tree given in love for someone and are unclaimed and unopened. Have we
looked to see what has been given us? Claim those special gifts; they may
be life changing.
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