subject: The best kind of Christmas gift [print this page] The best kind of Christmas gift
While Zales jewelry store boasts for the holiday, "Give the gift of love and hope" in the form of a diamond, writer Gary Thomas was much closer to the heart of Christmas when he told his wife, "My gift to you this year is going to be practicing on a daily basis kindness and gentleness."
Indeed, as we rush headlong into December 25th it is important to ask what we can give that will last far beyond the temporary day of decorations and wrapping paper.
A few years ago former police officer John MacCormack became a Christmas tree salesman after almost losing his life to four armed robbers. He stopped the men as they were breaking into a store and found himself staring down the barrel of a loaded gun.
In a moment of haste he asked them how much they had gotten from the store. When the men said it was less than fifty bucks, John was able to convince them to surrender and to not throw away their lives for the few dollars they had stolen.
Shaken by the incident, MacCormack resigned from the force and took up sales. He also became an investor and before long became a millionaire.
He then went on a wild spending spree, taking limousines everywhere he went and funding expensive parties. Soon his money was spent and his fianc left him. Unable to see through the pain of loss he decided to commit suicide.
While sitting on the beach contemplating the best way to end his life, an older gentleman name Abe approached him and said, "Your ship isn't coming in, you must go get it." Surprised by the stranger's abruptness, John told him his story of losing everything in a matter of months.
Unimpressed, Abe asked him if he could speak English. John assured him that he could. Next Abe asked him if he could mentally make change out of a twenty dollar bill. Once again John answered in the affirmative. Finally Abe asked him if he had any friends, to which John answered yes.
Abe then said to him, "Son, do you have any idea how many people came to this country with no money, who couldn't speak English and didn't know anyone, yet fulfilled their dreams? You are already way ahead of most people."
Then he shared words that forever changed MacCormack's life: "Any man who knows more about his liabilities than his assets is in big trouble."
That single sentence was enough to move John to reassess his life and his values, and put him back on track to become a successful business man once again. More importantly it showed him how much he truly possessed in things that matter the most.
Want to give a gift that will outlast the season? Stop and consider all that you and your family have to be grateful for and write it down. Know that your assets far outweigh your liabilities and see it in writing.
Commit to being a more loving and giving person in 2011, and make your promise known to the ones you love and then demonstrate your words by your actions.
And finally, dream big God sized dreams and then begin to pursue them so that when December 25th, 2011 arrives you will simply look back in gratitude. As Meister Eckhart shared some eight centuries ago, "If the only prayer you ever say in your whole life is thank you,' that would suffice."
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