Gift of the Magi!

One dollar and eighty-seven cents! That is all she had and the next day was Christmas! Through the years our Christmas' have been greatly anticipated. Although there were years when the kids were small that the fire department and others helped make Christmas a little brighter.


Back in the 80's with the way the economy was we decided to go into the Army. Although it took us all the way to California, that was quite an adventure, a long way from family and friends. But as a fairly new couple we wanted to weather the adventure and come out on the other side. Chad was only 4 1/2 and Sarah 1 year old when we took the Am track train to California. We stayed with friends from church for about a month, then moved into sub-standard housing (only one bathroom, we've had lots since then)LOL! We moved into the three bedroom one bath the end of July. We were getting settled in when the military decided that they had paid us too much, they had not taken out anything since we had moved. So with the military it is an all or nothing program. So they took back ALL that they had overpaid and left NOTHING for us to live on. So catch up was the game we played for quite a while with bills, food and Christmas.

Our families had sent a few things for Christmas for the kids, I always hated telling my family anything about or problems. It seems that those are the things that are remembered the most. So just suck it up!!! RIGHT! Put on the big kid undies and deal with it.

With the church and family we had a good Christmas, the kids only got a few things but we continued with the traditions of baking and making things for each other. It is amazing what you can do with one dollar and eighty-seven cents!!

This year when Sarah had asked about the old ceramic Christmas tree I thought she wanted one and she thought that I wanted one. Each one of us had our own idea of what we thought the other one needed! Much like the "Gift of the Magi" although I did not sell my tree nor Sarah we each in our own way were giving what was from our heart.

Christmas is still very special to us, each year brings new rewards and joys. With the grand kids the joy on their little faces lights up the room. With our own kids the joy seen on their faces also lights up the room but with a different view. Possible of the Christmases past, remembering the old and celebrating the new always radiating with the joy.

Children are amazing creatures they adapt to their circumstances with great vigor to keep going no matter what. Young or old they are still the same like the energizer bunny.

The story of the Magi ends with the author comparing the pair's mutually sacrificial gifts of love with those of the Biblical Magi.



"The magi, as you know, were wise men--wonderfully wise men--who brought gifts to the Babe in the manger. They invented the art of giving Christmas presents. Being wise, their gifts were no doubt wise ones, possibly bearing the privilege of exchange in case of duplication. And here I have lamely related to you the uneventful chronicle of two foolish children in a flat who most unwisely sacrificed for each other the greatest treasures of their house. But in a last word to the wise of these days let it be said that of all who give gifts these two were the wisest. O all who give and receive gifts, such as they are wisest. Everywhere they are wisest. They are the magi."

To read more about the Magi Gifts see:

http://www.threemagi.com/gift.html

May your giving be as wise as the magi!
As I hope to always give my gifts with that sacrificial love like the Magi's!


God Bless us all, everyone!