My best Christmas ever happened in 1976...

Laura and I lived in Flippin Kentucky, where I was pastor of the great old Indian Creek Baptist Church, and was also attending Southern Seminary in Louisville.. The children were scattered between the ages of three and ten..

We gave them a few dollars and dropped them off at the little community store owned by our good friends, and allowed them to do their Christmas shopping.. I was delighted to open my gifts on Christmas morning and find four well-chosen gifts.. which included a spool of fishing line and a can of motor oil, along with a comb and an ash tray (we didn't smoke )..

Laura was also thrilled with her gifts.. They could not have meant more to us if they had cost a million dollars each ...

The children learned the joy of giving, and we felt the warm love of receiving precious gifts chosen with hearts of love.. They have continued to give over the years, but never anything of greater value to us than those first Christmas gifts..

Thank you Children.. You did great and selected well, because you chose from the heart under the direction of angels of God..

..And So Here I Stand