“So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” —Matthew 6:34
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One year was very financially hard for us. It was close to Christmas, and we knew we would not be able to give our two daughters gifts as the year before. We called a family meeting in the kitchen in order to explain to our 10- and 8-year-old daughters.
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I promised them that we would try and make this an eventful Christmas if nothing else. The girls were very understanding and told us not to worry. The first thing we did was to wrap boxes that had a strip of paper with a prayer or scripture written on it that they had picked out. I did not want a barren Christmas tree. That would have been sad.
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We made things by hand, construction paper chains and other handmade ornaments and bows. Through our home church we found of a need for delicately used toys for homeless children. We went through their toys, they each picked out what they no longer used, and we wrapped them and brought them to church. The girls had a lot of fun doing this. We did things with fruit and homemade pastries. We sewed things from outgrown clothes to give away. We were blessed that we had food.
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This poor Christmas turned out to be the best Christmas ever; our girls, now 51 and 49, still bring up these memories during the Holidays.
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This special Christmas taught us all that gifts are better given than received and a much better understanding of that statement. We always kept Christ in Christmas, but this year was especially dear to us.
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Dear Lord our Savior, we so often get caught up in the moment of Christmas that we forget the real meaning of why you were born. You give us so much to be thankful for. Help us realize that you came as a gift to us and that is the only gift we will ever need. We worship your HOLY NAME. Amen.
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Kathleen Adams