Give the Gift of Life

Guest Entry

I gave blood the other night and while there at the Red Cross donor center, they played one of the “The Santa Clause” movies with Tim Allen. Allen’s character is trapped via a technical clause to be Santa. This particular film, the second in that series, is not particularly great. Except for one scene where Santa gives out gifts to people who are reluctantly attending an office Christmas party. The guests are all bored and unwilling to participate in the spirit of the times until Santa hands out the gifts. Calling each patron by name they one at a time open their presents.

As the first actor opens his gift, he lights up astonished at the appropriateness of his package, “this is what I’ve always wanted and never got as a child.” Each guest comes forward to receive their presents and each becomes more and more excited seeing the reactions of the guests in front of them. Every present is spot on. The glum mood of the party is transformed into a frolicking happy time. All because the gifts were perfect.

Every Christmas I try and find a perfect gift for my family. I don’t often succeed. I remember Kip once asked for a Hans Solo wearing a storm trooper outfit with his helmet off. I looked and looked and didn’t find it. That would have been the perfect gift.

In the times I managed — at least an almost perfect gift — I’ve seen the recipient’s faces brighten and glow. My dad was always hard to find the right thing for. One year I got him a bag of rubber bands (he was forever looking for one) and he said that was the best gift he had ever gotten. So it isn’t the costly, expensive thing we give that makes a difference. 

For me, my perfect gift was a GPS — I have a terrible sense of direction. I cherish that present.

And the gift doesn’t have to be an object. Haven’t you at one time or another listened to a sermon and said, “this message is for me. That’s exactly what I need to hear.” This could be your perfect gift.

I gave blood. I will never see who received it. For someone dying, that is the perfect gift. Look around, and you will see that all of us will someday die (happy thought isn’t it?). Since we are all dying, a gift on par with blood is the perfect gift.

This Christmas remember that the Christ child was the perfect gift for humanity.  His blood was shed for you.

By MIke Brown
Restore Church's Camera Man

Join Restore Church on Jan. 1, 2012 at 9 a.m., 10:15 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. at 616 Ontario St, Havre de Grace, MD