His One Christmas Wish

I got my weekly email from Elder Gary yesterday. He is still in Canyon. He is a little bummed that he is still in his greenie area, but great work is going on there.

In the email he let me know that he received his Christmas box from my parents. Then he proceeded to let me know that he didn't want us to send him anything.....I mean NOTHING!!! He said the only thing he needed was clothes and he has all of them that he needs. He wants us to take the money that we would have spent on his presents and shipping them to him, and use it for someone who really needs it. He has ALWAYS been one to think of others before himself.

At first I thought, I can't just send him nothing! Not one thing! But as I have thought about it, this was his Christmas list. His one Christmas wish. Give to someone who needs it worse than he does. This is what he would do. After all, this is the kid that right before he left for his mission, we had a food drive. I sat 2 sacks of food out for it. But Gary wanted to do something from him. So he went to the grocery store, bought things on sale, so he could buy more with the same money, and bought a full sack of groceries to come home and place it on the doorstep.

So....That is what I am going to do. I am going to take the money that I would have spent on him and give it to someone that I know needs more than he does right now. I know, beyond a doubt, just who that person is supposed to be. Then I will send him a Christmas card telling him who his gift went to this year.

May we all learn from a humble missionary, just what the true meaning of Christmas really is.

Merry Christmas Elder Gary.