The Gift

This past Friday, December 23rd was another of the many beautiful days in my life. I suppose you could call them "special", "important", "meaningful"...I just like to use the word "beautiful". It was rather warm (at least compared to what we've been having here in Columbus all December), and sunny. I was on my way over to our church to help set up chairs for the Christmas Eve services the following day. I stopped at our mailbox on the way down the driveway and picked up the mail. I quickly sorted through the stack of envelopes while getting back in the car and took notice of the name and address on one of those envelopes. It was from one of my tenants, and just seeing her name, I knew this would be a special one to open. I laid the pile of mail on the empty seat next to me and drove on over to church, all the while pondering what was in that particular envelope.

Upon returning home from church, I sat down at our kitchen table and pulled that envelope out first for opening. My wife Barb was in the family room breast-feeding our adorable daughter Chloe. We were getting ready to host some friends at our house in a few hours and Barb wanted the house tidied up a bit, but I just had to open that envelope before getting started.

Inside was a beautiful Christmas card and a two page hand-written letter. I read the letter and did everything I could not to cry. I said to Barb, "this is the neatest letter. You've got to read this." She could judge by my facial expressions that the words in the letter were very moving and said "I don't want to read it. It's going to make me cry." She was concerned about having her mascara run as our guests would be over in just a short time. I read the letter out loud anyway and if I'd been wearing mascara, my face would have been a mess! Hers was.

The woman that sent the card and letter has been a tenant of mine for a number of years. She's a wonderful single mom. If there was a definition of what a mom is, this woman would complete that definition. She does everything in her power to see that her kids are given the best possible upbringing a kid could be given. I see it in the brief moments each year while managing her property, and you'll see it in an excerpt of her letter below.

Earlier this month I received a call from her apologizing for being late on her rent. She was doing everything she could to round up her money, but this particular month had been tough. She had just discovered that she had been diagnosed with cancer. This happened right on the heels of a very close family friend dying suddenly. Her kids would not be getting much this Christmas. I could tell by the tone of her voice that she was having a very rough go of it. I told her to keep her rent money this month and spend it on her kids. They were more important than me getting her rent money. She was obviously very suprised and taken aback.

There's a reason I titled this entry "The Gift". All through our lives we are presented with opportunities to provide "gifts" to others that will aid them as they continue to fulfill their life's journey. How many of those occasions are simply shrugged off to continue on our own busy path? I hope this little message will act as an inspiration to keep your eyes more open to these opportunities to provide your own gift - not just at Christmas, but at any time. It doesn't have to be a material thing, it could be something as simple as a hug. Sometime down the road, that gift will come back to you. When it does, it will be more valuable than when you gave it. Such was the case with this particular gift. Read below and see just how valuable the gift I gave has become. And not just to me, but to a number of people...

I wanted to take some time to let you know what a huge blessing you are to my family. My whole family was greatly encouraged by your act of kindness. I believe there are no small acts of kindness. Everything we do touches the lives of people around us and spreads like the ripple in a stream.

I have a very large family also. I have five brothers and I am the only girl. Every year we get together for a holiday party. Except this year with the death of our friend and my problems, it just didn't feel like it was right to celebrate. That is until I told them about what you did. And it reminded us of all the other ways God has blessed us this year. My brothers and I met to have a small celebration remembering we still have each other. We decided to do this every year and they had a toast to you. You know when you think you might never see your children grown or get the chance to meet their children, you start wondering what memories and traditions you're leaving behind for them. I wanted to know they understood the spirit of the holiday. I had already explained to them there would be fewer gifts this year and they understood. Then your act of kindness happened and I thought they would be thrilled at the idea of a few more gifts. I was wonderfully surprised when they decided they wanted to share this gift with someone.

We heard of a family with great needs and they decided they wanted to meet some of those needs. The older ones even offered to do without so I could buy more for the younger two. I can't tell you how proud I was to know they understood. And to be able to call them mine and knowing they would watch out for each other makes the weight lighter.

One of the things this family asked for was a Bible. When the father received it, he stood there and cried. That blessing could last for generations to come. My daughter says she has never received a gift that made her as happy as his reaction did.

So I guess I just wanted you to know that the blessing that started with you has grown wings and now has a life of its own. And from the bottom of our hearts we want to thank you and to let you know we will keep your family in my families prayers and ask Him to bless you all greatly.

Again, I hope this little entry will act as an inspiration to you. Feel free to forward this link to others and as my tenant put it, let the ripples continue across the stream. Hoping you had a wonderful Christmas this year and wishing you a Happy and prosperous New Year!
Dave.