I have been
silent for the last month because I was so busy giving out Christmas
gifts. First we held an event for the
sponsored children. The children gathered, very excited, at the village hall,
joined in the games with gusto listened attentively to the talk I had prepared,
and then happily each received their bag of gifts. Refreshments finished our time together.
The next
day, I held the nativity play for the Girls´ Brigade girls. They loved dressing
up and performing for their parents. They also each received a gift and a bag
of sweets.
The
following two days I visited six local schools giving out more gifts to the
primary school children. It was great
fun to see their eyes light up as they received their gifts and tried them on
or read them.
The children
valued their gifts because they receive very little at Christmas – or at any
other time of the year. Some of their gifts, and the cakes and treats were made
by the local sewing group. These women value the work I am able to put their
way in this manner, and also the chance to learn new sewing and baking
skills.
My talk
this year was about the gifts the wise men took to Jesus. Hardly any of the children could tell me what
the gifts were – let alone what they meant.
I explained the gold was in recognition that Jesus is king, frankincense
in recognition of his divinity and that myrrh anticipated his death which
brought us salvation.
We then had
a beautiful family Christmas, celebrating with our extended family and close
friends. We ate our ham, accompanied by
rice, outside in the heat on Christmas Eve night, with the singing of carols in
Spanish and readings from the Christmas story. Of course, there were gifts
exchanged amongst us too, especially for the children.
The festive
season was tainted with sadness too, as is the way in this damaged world of
ours. I found myself writing the death
certificate for an elderly neighbour and hearing of the tragic death of the son
of one of the teachers in our most local school. He died in a motorbike accident.
Often we
ask, “What was your best present this year?” As I reflect on the gifts given
and received this Christmas and indeed at other times of the year, I conclude
the best gift of all is one I usually take for granted; the gift of another day
of life.
As we enter
the New Year, may I remember to give thanks for that simple and yet most
precious gift of God each and every day.
