The week before Christmas was busy with last minute shopping, Christmas Programs, and parties.  It was a wonderful time of giving, sharing, and experiencing the true meaning of Christmas. One evening my parents and I traveled to Pawleys Island to see my niece Kirklyn in a 5th grade production of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.  The play was a wonderful reminder that giving brings joy to all, even to an old cantankerous person.  As most people remember, Ebenezer Scrooge was a stingy, ill-tempered lonely man who realized late one night the need for giving and allowing others into his life.  His conversion was brought on after an encounter with his former deceased partner, the Ghost of Christmas Past, the Ghost of Christmas Present and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come.  The play was very well done and inspired my own Christmas encounters.         
    For the past 37 years Bunny has given me many wonderful and useful gifts. There have been rings, bracelets, lamps, vacuum cleaners, pictures, money, and the list goes on and on.  However, the best gift he ever gave me was the one he made.  Some years ago our church renovated the front portion of the sanctuary and added a vestibule and porch.   During construction the four old columns on the original front porch were torn off and were ready to be disposed of when Bunny went by the church to check on the building process.  Being prudent and very resourceful, he asked the contractor if he could have the columns not knowing what he would use them for.  In fact when he brought them home I was none too happy because I understand how men operate and envisioned these columns remaining under the garage for years being an eyesore and aggravation.  After a while Bunny took the columns apart and stored the old pine boards in his shop. Fairly often I would ask him what he was going to do with the boards that were taking up so much room in the building.  He always answered the same way. “I have not decided yet.”  Finally after a few years I suggested he build a china cabinet for me with the wood that he had salvaged and stored.  He never gave me an answer.  Sometime during the year Bunny began to plane and sand each piece of wood.  Now remember these columns had been on the porch of our church for years and had several coats of paint that had to be removed. Patiently he worked with the old pine boards until each piece of wood was smooth and perfect. He then drew a plan for a Shaker Style Cabinet and bit by bit began to put the pieces together.  Finally after several months the beautiful piece of furniture was finished just in time for Christmas.  Not only was this gift special because it was made for me, but it is also part of the history of our church.  Interestingly enough, Eddie Clowney built a Shaker Style Sideboard for me using wood from my grandmother’s house a few Christmases before. I may have other pieces of furniture that cost more, but none have greater value to me than these two pieces. It’s a wonderful memory of Christmas past.
    Twenty years ago my friend Diane Boyd gave me a present in a small gift bag.  She then said just for fun we would keep the bag and use it each year, thus began the gift bag tradition.  Whoever receives the bag at Christmas keeps it until the next year and puts something in it to give back to the other person.  There have been times over the 20 years when one of us has panicked not being able to find the bag in order to keep the tradition going.  There have also been years when my sneaky friend gets the bag and then immediately gives it back to me with a present so she does not have to store it for the year. It has never mattered what was in the bag, because the bag is the real gift. This silly 20 year tradition represents the wonderful gift of friendship and for us here is no better present.  As I looked in a drawer a few weeks ago and found the little bag I planned what would go in it and when I would give it to Diane.  I have learned not to give it too early or I just get it back and have to keep it for the year. The old gift bag tradition is a delightful part of my Christmas today.
    One night last week my four year old granddaughter Elizabeth came over to my house with her hand behind her back and said, “Tee, I have a present for you!”  She then handed me someone’s discarded, faded, purple silk flower bouquet.  She had the biggest smile on her cute little face and the enthusiasm she displayed was contagious as I eagerly accepted her precious gift.  As I thought about sweet little Elizabeth and her excitement over the gift, it was a sure reminder that even at four she understands the importance of sharing and giving gifts to those she loves.  Unlike Ebenezer Scrooge, Elizabeth does not have to learn that kindness, generosity, and compassion makes life better and gives pleasure to other people because she already knows it.  Elizabeth and her sister Katie are two wonderful gifts and the reason I look forward to Christmases yet to come.