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An African boy listened carefully as his teacher explained why Christians give presents to each other on Christmas day. "The gift is an expression of our joy over the birth of Jesus and our friendship for each other," she said.
When Christmas day came, the boy brought to the teacher a seashell of lustrous beauty. "Where did you ever find such a beautiful shell?" the teacher asked as she gently fingered the gift.
The youth told her there was only one spot where such extraordinary shells could be found. When he named the place, a certain bay several miles away, the teacher was left speechless.
"Why...why, it's gorgeous...wonderful, but you shouldn't have gone all that way to get a gift for me."
His eyes brightening, the boy answered, "Long walk part of gift."
I just love that story. During this holiday season, I watch as people scurry about swiping those plastic cards through the credit card machines faster than a speeding bullet. Yet, God has already shown us that the most precious gifts can not be bought or sold. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16 NIV).
The magi also knew about the joy of giving. While they gave gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the Christ child, they also gave another gift...a long walk. We don't know how far the magi traveled, but we do know it took months, perhaps years for them to reach their destination. Their long walk was part of the gift.
I wonder how far we are willing to go to worship Jesus...to bring our gifts to him. I wonder how far out of the way we will go to praise him. Do we only give to Him when it is convenient or easy? Or do we give what He wants most -- a portion of our selves, our very lives.
I think the little African boy had the right idea. The real gift wasn't the shell. The real gift was the sacrifice he made to give it that was so precious.
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read more blogs!
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Tiramisu4u
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Dec 4 @ 9:39AM
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OMG...this is sooo true!!
My *treasures* are things that are mostly handmade...I still have them from over the years, whereas, many purchased, *expensive* gifts have gone by the wayside.
Excellent story! 
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MrPaul
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Dec 4 @ 9:54AM
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 The gift of time is the most precious gift of all
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pinkypaula2
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Dec 4 @ 9:57AM
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yes i agree i love handmade gifts and i usally also give them out, expecially this year,, i still have many things that someone made me it means the world to me,
i can remember one time when we didnt have a lot of money but i had made al my nephews/neices took colored paper and wrote their name on it down a single line and put in what beside each letter of their name my own feelings of them went to dollar store got the frames and i also colored each name in pretty colors, and that is what i gave for christmas one yr and you know til this day i have seen a few of them stiil in their rooms makes my heart know that its not all about money its love and caring
thank you soo much sherry for sharing with us that was beautiful 
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IamTrinity
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Dec 4 @ 10:45AM
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My most cherished Christmas gift was neither bought nor made. It was a phone call from one of my daughters a couple years back. In the course of our conversation she said, "You know Papa how every year we would ask you what you wanted for Christmas and every year you would simply say Love and Peace? Well, it has finally dawned on me that you really meant that."
Oh, I got another Christmas present from her but I can't even remember what that was anymore, for her words meant so much more to me.She had discovered the true meaning of Christmas.
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goodgurlgonebad
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Dec 4 @ 11:57AM
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EXCELLENT story  I love the way you think....theres nothing more special then when you child comes home with that christmas orniment that they made and they are so proud of. I have one from each of my children and they older now and I still put them on my tree to this day. Thanks for this one KY....took me down memory lane
Tammy
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Peabianjay
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Dec 4 @ 4:53PM
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So true!
Dear Santa,
I want a hand made iPod.
Yours,
PBJ
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summerbreeze916
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Dec 4 @ 6:03PM
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God has already shown us that the most precious gifts can not be bought or sold.
The real gift was the sacrifice he made to give it that was so precious.
This was an absolutely awesome blog! 
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misschoos
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Dec 4 @ 6:05PM
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~*~ I like this
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butterfly943
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Dec 4 @ 6:48PM
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The real gift was the sacrifice he made to give it that was so precious. so beautiful
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MetryTechie
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Dec 4 @ 7:14PM
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Amen! And awesome. Reading this and hearing about some of the craziness, like the death on Black Friday, I am reminded of this scripture...
Matthew 6:19-20 (New Living Translation)
Teaching about Money and Possessions
19 “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.
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