Advent Cards Day 7: A Wonderful Gift

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“Oh, Mom! Dad just drove in,” said Katie. “He probably brought a Christmas tree! I’ll get my coat on and help him bring it in.” But as she opened the door, Dad came in, and he didn’t have a tree.

“I’m sorry, sweetie,” said Dad, giving Katie a hug. “I tried to find… ” But Katie shrugged away and hurried to her room. She didn’t feel like celebrating Christmas. Dad knows how much I want a tree, she thought, and he let me down.

The sound of voices interrupted her thoughts, and she went to her door and listened. “I feel so terrible that we can’t afford a Christmas tree this year,” said Dad. He sounded very sad. “I know Katie was looking forward to one. Since it’s so close to Christmas, I thought they’d be marked down, but the prices were still pretty high. And with all the extra expenses we’ve had, I just didn’t think it was a good idea.” Katie felt ashamed of her attitude, but then a plan began to form in her mind.

A little later, Katie went out to join her parents. “Mom, can we bring out that little artificial tree we used in Grandma’s hospital room a year ago?” she asked.

“Sure,” said Mom, and she got the tree.

Katie pretended to be thrilled with it. “Help me decorate it,” she begged her parents. As they worked, she continued her cheerful act. “I remember when you and I went shopping and bought this ornament, Dad,” she said as she hung a bird in a cage on the tree. “We had so much fun.”

The angel they had used in years past seemed too big for the tiny tree, but they put it on top anyway. “Mom and I bought this angel for your first Christmas,” Dad reminded Katie—just like he did every year.

By the time they finished, Dad’s spirits had lifted, and Katie was surprised to find that she no longer had to pretend to be happy. Her joy was real, and she looked forward to Christmas morning. She didn’t expect to get many presents, but it didn’t matter anymore. She had already received a wonderful gift—the joy of making another person happy.

So how about you?

Is there something you can do to make someone’s Christmas happier? Maybe you won’t be getting all the presents you hoped for, but bringing joy to someone else beats anything you’ll find under the tree. God brought joy into the world when He gave us the greatest gift of all—His Son, Jesus. Remember that wonderful gift this Christmas as you look for ways to bring joy to others.

Key Verse

Acts 20:35 “Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.'”

Key Thought

Giving brings joy.

Further Reading

2 Corinthians 8:1-5