Nine Christmas Cards
I learned an important lesson from my wife this Christmas.
In Decembers past, our family had gotten a few Christmas cards - maybe one or two. But this Christmas was different.
My wife Joy is very talented in two regards: she's good at arts and crafts, and she's an excellent cook. I think one of the reasons she enjoys the holiday season so much, is because it gives her an opportunity to exercise her creative and culinary skills.
This holiday season, Joy was determined to send out a family Christmas card. We didn’t have enough money to hire a professional photographer, but Joy was not deterred. She got our family dressed up, drove us to a nearby park, and took some pictures on her iPhone. She edited the photos, picked out the best ones, and used a website to compile them into a Christmas card. She got out the address book and started mailing.
Here’s a few pictures she took:
Next, Joy headed to the kitchen. She decided this Christmas she was going to make chocolate babka. And not just one loaf or two. She was going to mass produce these babkas, eight in a batch.
Then it was time to distribute the babkas.
Our neighbors got a loaf.
Relatives got a loaf.
Our church got a loaf.
My boss got a loaf.
My boss’s brother got a loaf.
The doorman where I work got a loaf.
Our pediatrician got a loaf.
Our car mechanic got a loaf.
Parents at the playground got a loaf.
Now, as I mentioned before, in past years we had received maybe one or two Christmas cards. But this Christmas we received nine! That may not seem like a lot; but for us, that was about a 400% increase. Not only that, but many people whom Joy had given babka to gave gifts to our family in return.
Luke 6:38
Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
The lesson I learned from my wife this Christmas is this: when you give to others, you inevitably receive in return. This Christmas, my wife gave, and gave, and gave. And she didn’t ask for anything in return. But she certainly did receive.
Proverbs 11:25
The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.
My wife and I were talking after Christmas was over. We both agreed - just because Christmas was over, that didn’t mean the giving had to stop. What if we strove to demonstrate that type of generosity all year round?
