The Gift

A friend of mine shared this story with me:

"When I dwas in elementary school, we did a Secret Santa in my class room. All the kids drew a name and then we exchanged presents the last day before Christmas break. My parents went out and bought me a nice new toy to give to the child whose name I had drawn. Mama wrapped it up and the kid that received it, loved the present.

The present I received was from a boy in my class that I didn't really know. It looked like it had been wrapped with newspaper. I opened it and found an old, worn out little metal truck. It looked like it had been well played with. I was so disappointed! The present I had given was such a nice gift and this boy had just given me one of his own old toys.

Later, I learned the kid lived in a very run down shack. His mom was sick and his daddy had left them years before. He said they barely had enough money to have heat and food.

He quit coming to school after his mom died and he was sent to foster care.

I never saw him again.

I felt ashamed for the way I treated him when I got his gift, when I realized he had given me one of his only few toys.

This little truck -- a gift the boy had given from his heart when he had so little -- may have been the best present I have ever received."

It's not how much we give, but how much love we put into the giving. - Mother Theresa

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