When I tried to think about what I would consider my favorite Christmas memory dozens came to mind. All of them were either memories of times with my kids when they were small, nearly all of the rest, times with them and their kids/my grandchildren. But, as I thought about it even more, one Christmas memory rose up above them all. Why? Because it was my Christmas memory that had actually given me my first real sense of how magical Christmas could be.

It was just before Christmas when I was about 8 years old. That would mean it was the Christmas of 1956. My G-pa Hank came to our house (he lived in a cabin next door) with a Montgomery Ward catalog and told each of us kids (myself and 2 sisters) that we could order anything we wanted for $5.00 as our Christmas present from him. Being a little Seventh-day Adventist kid from a family that didn't have much money, that was an amazing concept! I took the catalog and looked at everything in the toy section over and over and over and over again. And then, I looked it over again.

After weighing it all out I finally decided on what was called a "Treasure Chest". For only $5.00 I could get a cardboard replica of a pirate's treasure chest that was filled with all sorts of colors and paints and coloring books ands scissors and activity books and stencils and on and on… everything imaginable for hours and hours of creative fun! It turned out to be a no-brainer. $5.00 for one thing or $5.00 for a Treasure Chest full of countless presents? That was it. I told him I wanted the "Treasure Chest".

Well, actually getting the "Treasure Chest" for Christmas did make it my best Christmas memory ever. I had hours and hours of enjoyment using all of the art supplies and activity books, to be sure. But, what came in that chest of treasures that I didn't realize until later in my life was so much more.

That chest of treasures contained the love my G-pa Hank had for me that was the reason behind giving me the chance to pick out "anything I wanted" for Christmas. He had also given me a true gift of love. This is not to say that every gift given to me before was not intended to be a gift of love. It's just that, however well meaning, few are. This "Treasure Chest", because my G-pa wanted me to pick out what I'd really like to have, was.

So, this is why it is my favorite Christmas memory. Not because I feel everything I give should be something I have the receiver pick out for them selves. It is because it taught me the meaning of the whole point of giving. Give to bring joy into the lives of those receiving your gifts. That's it. The whole point of giving is to give joy.

--Jeannie Hodges