Welcome to
the 12 Pearls of Christmas blog series!
Merry Christmas
from Pearl Girls™! We hope you enjoy
these Christmas “Pearls of Wisdom” from the authors who were so kind to donate
their time and talents! If you miss a few posts, you’ll be able go back through
and read them on this blog throughout the next few days.
We’re giving
away a pearl necklace in celebration of the holidays, as well as some items
(books, a gift pack, music CDs) from the contributors! Enter
now on Facebook or at the Pearl Girls
blog. The winner will announced on January 2, 2013 at
the Pearl Girls blog. If you are
unfamiliar with Pearl Girls™, please visit www.pearlgirls.info and see what
we’re all about. In short, we exist to support the work of charities that help
women and children in the US and around the globe. Consider purchasing a copy
of Mother
of Pearl, Pearl
Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace or one of the Pearl Girls products (all
GREAT gifts!) to help support Pearl Girls.
***
Will They Know
What it Cost?
By Glynnis
Whitwer
My daughter
Cathrine went on a field trip to the Grand Canyon when she was in fourth grade.
As I picked her up upon her return, she couldn’t wait to show me an
adorable little stuffed brown bear she’d bought as a gift. She started to say
that it was for everyone—meaning her three brothers and sister—but then her
words got jumbled. Tears welled in her eyes as she tried to explain how she ran
out of money when trying to buy gifts. Her distress was obvious.
To understand
fully, it might help to know that Cathrine was born in Africa and experienced
deprivation of every sort for the first eleven years of her life. At thirteen
years old, she was only in fourth grade. And although she has made
remarkable gains, even now she struggles with communication and math—especially
money.
Later that night
I finally understood what Cathrine was trying to tell me about the bear. She
had taken twenty dollars of her own money to buy herself a souvenir. But
before buying herself something, she wanted to buy some small gifts. So she
started with two of her teachers and bought them each a small ring with the first
initial of their last names. I looked at the price on the rings and realized
each was $3.99. Times that by two, add tax, and Cathrine would have been left
with eleven dollars for other gifts and herself.
I imagine she
stood at the gift store counter bewildered by what she had just done. She was
probably embarrassed to ask any of her classmates for help. And maybe the
teacher wasn't around. There she stood with just over half of her money, and
three brothers and a sister left to buy for. She decided to get a group gift,
and that’s where the bear came in.
Standing in our
kitchen, looking at the three items she purchased, I smiled brightly and told
her everyone was going to love their gifts and that she’d made wonderful
purchases. She smiled back, and the night ended well.
The next morning
as she wrapped up the little rings, I kept thinking about those two teachers
who were going to receive a gift that day. All they would see is a little
silver ring. I knew they would be very loving and appreciative. But would they
truly understand the sacrifice Cathrine made?
Would they
understand their gifts cost Cathrine half of what she had? Would they ever know
the frustration and worry Cathrine felt as she realized she didn't have enough
to buy her family any gifts? Would they treasure those little rings, or would
they put them in a drawer with gifts from other students throughout the year?
As I pondered
these thoughts, I considered a gift I was given two thousand years ago: Jesus.
God sent His Son into the world as a baby, knowing He would die on a cross for
me. The cost of this gift staggers me.
As I decorate my
tree and shop for my family, I’m reminded of what my freedom cost my Heavenly
Father. Do I truly understand the sacrifice of that gift? Do I understand the
anguish God the Father must have felt sending His Son? Do I treasure this gift,
or do I take it for granted?
Christmas is a
time for celebration. But it’s also a time to remember God’s sacrifice. For it
is in understanding the cost, that we fully appreciate the gift.
***
Glynnis
Whitwer is an executive director with Proverbs 31 Ministries. She is one of the
writers of Encouragement for Today, the Proverbs 31 e-mail devotions, with over
500,000 daily readers. Her newest book, I
Used to be So Organized, was released last fall. Glynnis, her husband Tod,
and their five children live in Glendale, Arizona. Visit www.GlynnisWhitwer.com for more
information.
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