Today is Christmas Day. Our young colleagues from UK organized a “Secret Santa” gift exchange. Early in December we drew names from a bag, and the name we drew was the person for whom we bought a gift. We were to wrap it up, but not put our name on it. The person who received the gift had to guess who had given it. After lunch today we had our time of opening gifts. We enjoyed each other, the gifts, and the celebration of this part of Christmas. Hannah, the person who organized this said, “We have to have something to keep up our spirits while we are all far from home.” Hannah was the giver of my gift. She gave me a small diary, called “The Way of Love” which has the famous poem about love that starts with “If I speak in the tongues of men and angels but have not love, I am a noisy gong, or a clanging cymbal.” The cover is black matte finish, almost like leather, and the front pieces and back pieces inside are embossed paper. The pages are blank, but Hannah has written that this is my “thought for the day” book. She has started off with a page for each day of January, 1-15, “quotes to keep me going.” Then, “the rest is up to you.”
In four months Hannah has noticed my mind and heart and has given a gift that “speaks” to my innermost self. She has given me a way to stay focused on writing every day, and a way to remember her and our time together here in China. She has given me the gift of listening.
Although we deeply miss our families, friends, and celebrations at home, we are grateful for this Christmas in China with our new friends. May you also enjoy the deep blessings of Christmas, in whatever circumstances you find yourself this year. The greatest gift of Christmas is the love of God, incarnate in Jesus, The Christ.