I have a special Christmas gift that I keep in a drawer in my house. It is a simple letter I received from a lady over 18 years ago but it is special to me and I get the letter out a few times a year to read, especially at Christmas. The church my family and I attended at the time would deliver gift baskets during Christmas to the elderly members of our church who could no longer attend the services. I volunteered to deliver a basket to an elderly member named Mrs. Dunlap. She had been a long time member of our church but had not been able to attend for several years due to health problems. She lived on the other side of town so my five year old son, William, and I drove to her house on a Sunday afternoon. Mrs. Dunlap lived by herself and I could immediately sense that she was a very sweet lady but was very lonely. We talked for a few minutes and I asked if I could say a short prayer for her. After I prayed for her she asked me if I could wait a few minutes because she had something to give to me. She did not know I was coming to her house on this day so I wondered what she could possibly have for me. She went to her bedroom for a few minutes while William and I waited in the living room. She was gone for about ten minutes and returned with a letter for us. She had quickly written a short note on a piece of notebook paper that included a few verses, a thank you, and a Christmas Prayer. Her letter said that William and I had been a blessing to her and she thanked me for the prayer for her. I get the letter out a couple of times a year and read her words and the Christmas Prayer. I never saw Mrs. Dunlap again after this day and I am sure that she is enjoying eternity with her Heavenly Father and is certainly not lonely this Christmas. I have received many Christmas gifts over my lifetime but I have always kept her letter as one of the special gifts. Mrs. Dunlap had nothing of value that she could give to us but she took the time to write a very special note to thank us for making the effort to visit her. I think I will always keep the letter from an obviously very sweet, Christian lady. The food and supplies that we delivered to her certainly did not last as long as the small piece of paper on which she wrote her note. I have included the Christmas Prayer below that Mrs. Dunlap wrote for me and William. I pray that you will read it and be reminded of the birth of our Savior. I also hope you receive many gifts this Christmas that are as special as my letter from Mrs. Dunlap. Merry Christmas!
Chad
A Christmas Prayer
Let the night be filled with music from angels bending low,
For His star adorns us in the heavens, and warms us with its glow,
Let the night be filled with wonder as we praise the Lord above,
For we serve a Risen Savior who fills us with His love,
Let the night be filled with praises, let miracles abound,
For the hope of generations is in the Christ Child found.
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