Key Bible Verse: After all, what gives us hope and joy, and what is our proud reward and crown? It is you! (1 Thessalonians 2:19). Bonus Reading: Psalm 128:1-4

As I opened the box of ornaments, one stood out from the rest—a white Styrofoam ball covered with colored sequins, with a pipe cleaner hanger. Tears flooded my eyes, as I remembered that Christmas so many years ago.

It was our first Christmas together as a family—Karen, her four children, my daughter, and me. We had very little money, yet we wanted it to be a memorable Christmas for the children. A trip to the store produced all the necessary items: Styrofoam balls, sequins, pipe cleaners, white glue, thread, popcorn, and cranberries. We spent several wonderful hours together making ornaments, stringing popcorn and cranberries, and decorating our tiny tree.

Many Christmases have passed since then, but whenever we ask the children about their favorite Christmas, it's always the one when we made our own ornaments. We learned a great lesson: that time and activities with our children are more valuable than anything money can buy. Now that the children have all grown up and moved on to their own lives, that single Styrofoam ornament covered with sequins is kept and will be placed on our tree every year, as a memorial of our favorite family Christmas.

—Rod Nichols in Washington

My Response: What time gift could I give my family for 2007?

Thought to Apply: Quality moments with your children come out of spending as much time with them as you can.—KEVIN LEMAN (counselor)

Prayer for the Week

Lord, I want to feed my family spiritually as well as physically. Fill me so that I can pass on the overflow.

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