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 The Best Gift Was
In My Son's Heart
Paul Vedder
First
Place Winner
Prize: $50 gift certificate
for
resources from our web store
and
$20 gift certificate to
Cold Stone Creamery
We have four children. Our oldest son,
Paul, was eighteen when we were in the process of adopting
Lily from China. The Christmas before was a time when we
were trying to save and pull all available resources together
in order to pay for the adoption. We had gathered
together and gave our four children the choice of either
getting Christmas gifts or try going to China as a family
to pick up their little sister. They all agreed to forgo
Christmas gifts if that gave them a better chance of going
on the trip.
I didn't realize it, but that Christmas
morning would certainly prove to be one of the most blessed
Christmases in my life. Paul knew that Christmas would
not be the same for his younger two brothers and younger
sister without some gifts to open. Our video camera was
also on its last legs. He had a plan.
My wife and I were awakened exactly in
the same manner I had awakened the kids each Christmas
morning previously. With his own money Paul had purchased
a brand new video camera. He came into our room first to
awaken us and then proceeded to his sibling’s rooms.
He brought us all to the living room where he had placed
gifts around what would otherwise have been an empty Christmas
tree. My son had not only purchased all of the gifts for
each of his brothers and sister, but he also hid them,
wrapped them, and placed them under the tree, completely
unbeknownst to any of us. My wife and I were absolutely
blown away by the unselfishness and love he exhibited to
our family, a true gift of his heart.
• • • • •
After choosing the winning entry,
we learned more about this family's story. Click
here for a glimpse
into their journey.
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