The Unintentional Grinch:

Marvin fretted about Christmas. Thelma would know what the grandkids wanted, but she’d been gone for almost a year. Would Emily like a doll or be offended … she was at that age. Henry would love hunting boots, but the way that boy was growing they wouldn’t fit by spring. Ernest loved books, but what hadn’t he read? Marvin also had his daughter’s five to buy for. Finally in desperation, he sat down at his desk and wrote out eight generous checks and eight cards. In each he wrote exactly the same message beneath the appropriate name:
 

Merry Christmas!

Love Grandpa

P.S. Buy your own present.

 
Marvin drove to Seattle where his family had gathered for the holidays. He was greeted with warmth and enjoyed Christmas with family, but the entire time passed with no mention of his gifts. In fact, the grandchildren all seemed a bit distant. Once Emily looked at him, burst into tears and ran from the room … she was at that age.
 
Marvin went home puzzled and a little depressed. Setting down at the old desk, he pulled out his checkbook to pay some bills. From it fell the eight checks he’d written for his grandchildren’s Christmas. Suddenly, “Buy your own gift” had an entirely different sound to it.
 
When God sent the gift of his Son Jesus into the world that first Christmas … He didn’t leave anything out. He not only offered new life in Christ, he supplied everything needed to live it.
 
Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 2 Peter 1:2-3
 
 
 
(reprinted from 12-7-2014)
 
 

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