Three White Horses
My Mamaw never had much money. In fact, she and my Papaw 
lived most of their lives without any modern conveniences. But she loved to give. She gave out of what she had, or she sacrificed even further, saving just enough, to make a difference in our lives.
It’s interesting in a way to look back on all the gifts I’ve received over my lifetime. I can only name a few of the expensive ones. I can’t recall any of those given out of obligation. But the ones I really remember are the ones that took some thought.
It would have been easy for my Mamaw to explain to the family how she couldn’t afford Christmas gift giving. We would have all understood. And many times I’m sure we tried to convince her, in advance, not to get us anything. We all had plenty.
But it is the thought that counts.
She was thinking of us, she loved us; she wanted to give to us. So many times, “It’s the thought that counts” gets used as an excuse for why someone bought you a gift you didn’t want, didn’t need or couldn’t use. Sometimes it’s an excuse for not giving a gift at all. “Hey, sorry I didn’t get you anything, but isn’t it the thought that counts?” Clearly not much thought goes into how that might make the other person feel.
But it wasn’t that way for my Mamaw.
One of the last Christmas gifts she gave me, before she died, was a set of three little white horses wrapped in tissue paper. She knew me.
I love horses.
She also knew someone, somewhere, who was willing to give up the horses because my Mamaw didn’t buy them at an expensive store. She bought them at a yard sale. She didn’t have much money and they didn’t cost much. But as she stood there looking at those three little white horses, she was thinking of me.
I see them every day… and you know what?
I always think of her.
Who are you thinking of this Christmas?
Who will say, “She really knew me”?
Who will look at a gift you have given and think of you?
God is always thinking of us and He is the giver of all good things.
Isaiah 49:16
See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands
I’m the first to admit I often buy gifts out of obligation. But every now and then, I stop and take the time to really think it through…and every now and then, I get it right and God allows the gift to be a blessing.
May God bless each of you this Christmas.
Enjoy the snow and I’ll see you next year as KeziahCarrie approaches her 1st birthday
February 2, 2012.
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