By GARY ANDREWS
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Christmas: the season of giving!
I have received many emails speaking of great gifts given to others whether the giver realized it or not. These are called miracle gifts and most of these contained no more than people giving of themselves.
My wife and I have watched many Christmas specials and have reached the conclusion that the greatest gift you give while inhabiting this earth is the gift of hope.
One email I received was about a four-year old boy who visited Santa Clause in a department store, and all he asked for was that Santa would come to the hospital and visit his younger sister who was dying of leukemia. Her greatest wish was that she could talk to Santa.
After work that evening the Santa and the manager of the store made their way to the hospital to visit this young lady. Upon their arrival and at first sight the young lady jumped with joy and almost pulled all of her medicine tubes from her body. Santa embraced her with a big hug and sat on the bed beside her.
They talked for a few moments and Santa told her to get well and he would see her next Christmas.
Santa left the room with tears in his eyes not knowing how long this young child had to live. With great anticipation he prayed with her and for her and instilled into her the gift of hope and future expectations.
This particular Santa worked for this department store every year and the next year was no different. One of his first visitors was a young girl who ran and jumped into his lap and asked, “Do you remember me?” Santa said, “of course I remember you.”
This was the same answer he gave to every child that asked him this question. Then the young girl said, “I am the one you came to visit last year in the hospital.” With tears in his eyes Santa hugged this young girl and said a prayer of thanksgiving for her life had been spared.
Through his unselfish giving of his time and through his inspirational gift of hope the Santa helped this young girl to overcome this dreaded disease and become cancer free.
The gift of giving in its purest form expects nothing in return. Giving is its own reward. Look what Jesus did for all of us. He gave Himself to be crucified on a cross so that you and I can have the gift of eternal life and all we have to do is believe.
Prayer: “Our Father, which art in heaven, thank you for your gift of life here on earth and for the knowledge of knowing that we will spend eternity with you because you sent your son to save us from our sins. You have told us so many times through your Word that we should believe and have faith in Christ Jesus. Amen.”
(Suggested daily Bible readings: Sunday - John 3:16-21; Monday - 1 Peter 1:13-16; Tuesday - Psalm 71:5-8; Wednesday - Isaiah 41:13; Thursday - James 1:5-6; Friday - Ephesians 2:8-10; Saturday - 2 Thessalonians 1:3)
Gary Andrews is the author of Encouraging Words: 30-days in God’s Word. To obtain a copy go to his website www.gadevotionals.com.