Adventures in Paradise 61
Kia Orana, everyone! Our excellent adventure continues with some thoughts on Christmas stockings, the people who fill them, and what I have learned from having received one. The Yalecrest 2nd ward has a very special Christmas tradition. Each year, well before the holidays and in plenty of time for snail mail to make timely deliveries, the ward members have an opportunity to contribute some small memento to a collection of items that will be stuffed inside a homemade Christmas stocking. These beautiful stockings are sent to each of the ward missionaries who are currently serving away from home. Over the years, I have contributed to these stockings, not ever realizing how much it would mean to the missionary who would be receiving it. As it is with so many other experiences here, I have now come to view the gift of these stockings from a very different perspective.
Last December, we were overwhelmed when our stocking was delivered. Ward and I were stunned by the size of the package and tearfully peeked inside. What we saw took our collective breath away. Not only was the stocking filled to overflowing, but so too was the package itself. We knew that this would be the highlight of our Christmas and we determined to wait until Christmas evening to open it. We wanted this to be a quiet, private time between us and our friends from home. We wanted to savor the love that we knew would be filling our evening and so we waited. With the twinkling of our tiny Christmas trees lights and the strains of holiday music in the background we slowly opened each package, read each card and laughed over photos and marveled at the ingenuity and thoughtfulness of the gifts. It was a magical time for us and we loved every minute of it. It took us over two hours to open everything!
How could someone know that Ward needed new socks? How would someone else think that I might need more lip gloss? We found a lovely new Simon Dewey calendar, packets of hot chocolate and apple cider mixes, crisp two dollar bills, which we will never bring ourselves to spend. There were tissues, toothpaste and toothbrushes. How did Santa know what we needed? How could he guess that we could use Post-it tabs, breath mints, dental floss or mint-scented hand sanitizer? Our stocking produced a beautifully framed display of all the words used to describe our Savior. There were lovely Christmas booklets, handmade cards, artificial snow, and a set of stickers depicting the Nativity. I saved these stickers for a whole year so that I could use them with the children this Christmas. There were funny cards, notes written by the primary children and CANDY. I had to laugh as one friend flattened homemade caramels with a rolling pin so that they wouldn’t take up any bulk in the stocking! We have enjoyed chilled glasses of Crystal Lite during the year and savored American soup. I told Ward that he wouldn’t really like the peppermint bark, selfishly hoping that I could keep it all for myself. Sadly, and to my dismay, I found that Ward loves peppermint bark! My list could go on, but there is no need to be more specific. Your imagination can fill in the gaps. It was a magical two hours.
We are grateful to every single person who took the time to think of us. That little phrase, “It’s the thought that counts”, took on a whole new meaning for me. I truly would not have cared what was in that stocking. What meant so much to us was that someone had thought of us. If each person had just dropped one marble into our stocking, I would have been overjoyed by my new marble collection as it would have been evidence of all who had taken the time to be thoughtful. Always after that, I would have taken pleasure in those marbles and the meaning they held for me. It would have been the world’s best and most special marble collection! We kept last years cards and have read through them over the last twelve months and in times of distress, their sweet messages have buoyed us up. They constantly remind us of those at home who remembered two friends who were absent.
So, what have I learned? I have learned that no thought is insignificant, no gift too humble, no effort is unappreciated. It truly is the thought that counts and each small, seemingly inconsequential contribution enhances the whole. I have also learned that there is always someone waiting to appreciate and be touched by someone else’s thoughtfulness. I will never again assume that what I have to contribute is not good enough, fancy enough or big enough. If it is thoughtful and comes from the heart, the gift is enough.
It is now the eve of Christmas 2011 and once again, a package has arrived from the Yalecrest 2nd ward. This time we have been instructed not to open (not even peek) until Christmas and we wouldn’t dream of disobeying. Well, I did shake it just a tad, but no one told me that I couldn’t be a little curious. The box arrived early, so we have had about three weeks to contemplate its contents. What we now know is that it really doesn’t matter what is in the box, rather what matters to us is that the box exists. We know of the love that comes packed with the contents and we have once more reserved the quiet of Christmas evening to open our treasure. We are so looking forward to spending that peaceful time together.
As always, we are happy and trying to work hard. We are grateful for the opportunity to celebrate the birth of our Savior with family and friends and wish you all a season filled with those small sweet traditions that make up the fabric of your lives. May we say also, that over the last fifteen months, we have relied on and appreciated your love and support. We have enjoyed receiving your letters,boxes, packages and e-mails and can honestly tell you that you will never know how much each one has meant to us. Some of you may be as curious about our box as we are, so I will be sure to include photos of its contents with our next blog.For now, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and are looking forward to the time in the very near future when we will be able to say that we will see you “This Year!”
Love, Ward and Susan Elder and Sister Belliston, serving in the Cooks
Our humble Christmas tree with the "The Box".
While holding last years stocking, Ward hopes to find it filled on Christmas morning. The caption embroidered on it says simply "Feed My Sheep".
Having saved the Nativity stickers from last year, we were able to share them with special friends this year. Here, the Rongo family displays their creations.
I love this box!
"The Box" and I are joined at the hip until Christmas night!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
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