the gift...

what do you see?

a box?

a present?

a surprise?

disappointment because you know what you wanted wouldn't fit in that little box?

what do you really see?

I see...

LOVE...

there is so much of it...

it's leaking through the seams...

can you see it now?

from one heart to another...

that kind of...

LOVE...

so what's in the box?

it doesn't really matter...

because LOVE is in the box...

because the gift came from the heart...

my mom always said...

it's the thought that counts...

and she was right...

I see the LOVE that someone took the time to find me something...

they were thinking of me when they were shopping...

they brought it home...

wrapped it up...

and put their heart inside...

just for me...

and I will be so careful when I open it...

careful not to break the heart that was given so freely...

and I will not take lightly the gift of that heart...

for I will protect it with everything I have in me...

because Christmas is about giving...

but it's also about receiving...

with the right heart...

God taught us about giving...

but also about receiving...

no matter how small the gift box...

the LOVE inside cannot be measured...

it can only be shared...

from one heart to another...

Merry Christmas!