The Ornament
Theme of the Week: Set the Tone for Your Family
Rod Nichols
Friday, December 15, 2006
 1 of 1
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)
Copyright © 2006 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine. Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity. 1 of 1
 share this page
Lord, I want to feed my family spiritually as well as physically. Fill me so that I can pass on the overflow.
Men of Integrity
Connect with God | Transform my Mind | Live by His Power
Relate Better | Make an Impact
Home | Archives | Contact Us
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Try an Issue of Men of Integrity
Free!
|
 |
|
No credit card required. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. Offer valid in U.S. only. Click here for International orders.
If you decide you want to keep Men of Integrity coming, honor your invoice for just $19.95 and receive five more issues, a full year in all. If not, simply write "cancel" across the invoice and return it. The trial issue is yours to keep, regardless.
Give Men of Integrity as a gift
Buy 1 gift subscription, get 1 FREE!
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
| |
|
RSS Feed
