She was a beautiful doll. She had a face of white cloth with black button eyes. A black pencil had made her eyebrows, and her cheeks and her mouth were red with the ink made from pokeberries. Her hair was black yarn that had been knit and raveled, so that it was curly. She had little red flannel stockings and little black cloth gaiters for shoes, and her dress was pretty pink and blue calico. She was so beautiful that Laura could not say a word. She just held her tight and forgot everything else."
~ from Little House in the Big Woods
by Laura Ingalls Wilder
There is something so pure about having just one of something. In our culture of "way too much" really appreciating a beautiful gift is not commonplace. Don't you wish you could feel the thrill of receiving a rag doll like Laura felt in the Big Woods book? I do.
One little boy at school told me, "I want four presents and they are not expensive." Another boy asked him to name the four things. They were small things: a used video game, a remote for an old game system, a magazine. I loved him even more when he boldly shared his way of easing the financial burden for his mother.
On my way home from school, I was trying to think of priceless gifts.
~ a listening ear, giving someone/anyone our undivided attention
~ a compliment like, "Your eyes twinkle and it warms my heart."
~ a pop-in visit just to say, "How was your day? What are you thinking about?"
~ a lighted candle at a child's bedside and a four-handed prayer said aloud to a listening Jesus
~ an appearance at a special Christmas play to support a precious little actress who is playing a minor role
~ a piece of paper with a name written on it ten or twenty times followed by all the things that make them lovable
~ a song sung in a wobbly voice
We don't need lots of things. We just need the One.
Please enjoy the "A Childlike Christmas" bloggers. All the links are on the sidebar.
Thank you for coming by to say hello!
I wish you peace.
