The 12 Days of Christmas - Day 11

Money, Money, Money, Money……Money

Luke 21:2-4
He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. I tell you the truth," he said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.

“The Gift of the Magi,” by O. Henry is the story of a young couple, happily married but struggling to make ends meet at Christmas. In the story Della sells her prized hair to buy Jim a watch fob, and Jim sells his watch to purchase a beautiful set of combs for her hair.

This is a classic story of sacrifice for a loved one. Like the poor widow in Luke, Della and Jim gave a gift of love, out of their poverty, for each other. In this season of economic hardship we should be reminded that it isn’t always the expensive gifts that are the most meaningful.

I have a friend who had no money to purchase a birthday gift for a friend one year, so she wrote her a prayer letter. She penned a prayer of blessing using God’s word for her friend and her family. The response was more heartfelt than Lee could have imagined, or hoped for. (If you are interested in learning more about prayer letters go to: http://www.prayergifts.net/) A gift given from the heart, like my friend, Lee’s prayer letters, tells the recipient that you invested yourself into their gift.

On the eleventh day of Christmas I promise to give responsibly. I promise to give the gift of love in word and deed, and to give out of love and not for show.