一年到头都送礼　Gifts Year-Round

Yes, God will give you much so that you can give away much, and when we lake your gifts to those who need them they will break out into thanksgiving and praise to God for your help.

～2 Corinthians 9：11

Last year, I didn't have the heart to disassemble our artificial tree covered in miniature white lights. Each time we passed the living room, we'd pause to gaze at the illuminated corner, a poignant reminder that Christmas is all about giving.

Then, something significant happened each time we looked at that tree.

It reminded us to give a gift to someone each and every day of the year.

One afternoon, our six-year-old neighbor, Hayden, popped in for a visit. As he entered the living room, his eyes instantly spotted the lit tree.

“Wow！A Christmas tree！Why do you have a Christmas tree up in the middle of summer?Christmas has been over for a long time now！”

“We like to celebrate Christmas all year long！”I smiled.“Just this morning, there were a bunch of presents under that tree.”

“Where are they now?”he asked, curiously.“Oh, that's one of the rules about celebrating Christmas all year long！Since it's a giving tree, the presents aren't allowed to stay here for more than a day. It's our job to see that they are given as soon as we hear of a need！That's what Jesus would want, right?”

Hayden tilted his head to one side and gazed up at me in wonder.“What kind of presents are they?”

“Well, let me think；one day, we packed up some clothes we no longer needed, and sent them to hurricane victims, and to people in other parts of the world, who aren't as lucky as we are. Of course, we always place them under the tree the night before and pray for the people who will be receiving our special surprises.Another time, I crocheted some soft baby blankets.We wrapped them up in pretty paper, and gave them to a place downtown that could use them.Then there was the day we wrapped up all of our old Guide posts and Angels on Earth magazines, and took them to an assisted living facility.There are just all kinds of people out there who could use a pleasant surprise, not only at Christmas time, but all year-round！”

The room suddenly grew so quiet；I had to look in Hayden's direction to make sure he was really still sitting next to me.

Suddenly Hayden's face glowed as brightly as the Christmas lights on the tree.“If I go home and color a bunch of pictures, would you wrap them up and give them away as presents?”

I reached out and gathered Hayden softly in my arms.“I think that's a sensational idea！I know that will make Jesus happy too！”

“And maybe we can tell others to keep their trees up all year-round, so they remember that every day is Christmas, right?”

“I'll be sure and let them know.”I whispered around the sudden lump in my throat.“Merry Christmas, Hayden！”

“Father, may we keep the spirit of Christmas in our hearts year-round. Help us to teach our children that the reason we give, is because you asked us to.Thank you for sending us the greatest gift the world has ever known, Your Son.Amen.”

～Mary Smith

叫你们凡事富足，可以多多施舍，就籍着我们使感谢归于神。

——《圣经·新约·哥林多后书》第9章第11节

家里的圣诞树是人工制作的，上面挂着很多白色小灯。去年过完圣诞后，我没有心思收拾圣诞树。每次从客厅走过，总会停下来看看这个屋里光亮的小角落。这棵圣诞树仿佛时时刻刻提醒我们，圣诞节的全部内涵就是要给予。

接着，每一次看到这棵圣诞树都会有点非同寻常的事情发生。

它提醒我们，每年，甚至每天都要给别人一份礼物。

有一天下午，邻居家六岁的孩子海顿跑到我们家玩。一进客厅，小家伙就盯上我们家的圣诞树了。

“哇，圣诞树！大夏天的，你们家怎么还摆着圣诞树呢？圣诞节老早就过去了呀！”

我笑了笑：“我们家全年都过圣诞节！今天早上，树下面还有一大堆礼物呢。”

“那礼物跑哪儿去了呢？”小家伙好奇地问道。我说：“要想全年都过圣诞节那就得天天送礼物！圣诞树是送礼的树，礼物在圣诞树下放着的时间不能超过一天。听到别人有需求了，我们就得准备礼物。这才是耶稣基督让我们做的事情，是吧？”

海顿歪着脑袋盯着我，一脸好奇地问：“那你们送的都是些什么礼物呀？”

“我想想啊，呃……有一天我们收拾了一下不穿的衣服，把它们寄给了受飓风影响的灾民和其他国家一些不幸的人。当然了，我们总是在寄出去的前一天晚上，把要送的礼物打包放到圣诞树下，并且为那些将要收到我们特殊礼物的人祈祷。还有一次，我织了几条婴儿毯子，然后把它们用纸包装起来寄到市中心一家机构了。还有一天，我们把过期的《路标》杂志和《人间天使》周刊一起打包，寄给了一个生活援助机构。不仅仅是圣诞节，我们一年到头都可以去给予。很多人会因为我们的特殊礼物而惊喜！”

说着说着，屋里没了声音。我往海顿的方向瞅了瞅，看小家伙是不是还坐在我旁边。

我看见小家伙的脸蛋突然变得和圣诞树上的彩灯一样亮堂。“我回家用水彩笔画几幅画，你能把它们也当成礼物送出去吗？”

我过去一把抱住海顿：“我觉得你的想法太好了！耶稣知道你这么做了，肯定也会特别高兴！”

“我们还可以跟其他人说，让他们也一年到头保留着圣诞树。这样的话，他们也会记着每天都可以过圣诞节，不是吗？”

我的嗓子一下子哽住了，轻声回答道：“我会让大家都知道的。圣诞快乐，海顿！”

“主啊！我们全年都会把圣诞精神留在心中。帮帮我们吧，让子女知道我们之所以给予，是因为那是您的旨意。感谢您赐予我们世上最珍贵的礼物，您虔诚的子民。阿门！”

——玛丽·史密斯