carefully removed wrapping from a white box and lifted the lid to reveal a gold cross and baby ring on a deli- cate gold chain. My mother-in-law gave me a cherished possession, her firstborn son’s baby ring, and even more , a place in the family. I’ve worn that necklace daily for more than 40 years.
Karen Idler
Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer, Sacramento, Calif.
To be in touch ... My best gift was from a niece 12 years ago. I am 88 years old, live alone and am hearing impaired. The gift was a Mail Station email machine. Com- munication with the family had been limited to letters and short telephone messages through the relay operator services. The email machine was small, and easy to understand and operate. I was immediately in touch with my large, spread out family and no longer felt “outside the circle.” It improved my quality of life and allowed me to keep in touch with the hearing world.
Corrine A. Hansen Trinity Lutheran Church, Greenleaf, Kan. DESIGN PICS Baby as ‘gift’
My husband and I had been praying and trying for a baby for a long time. It was Dec. 20, 1994, and at the doc- tor’s checkup it was confirmed that I was pregnant.
Christmas had been a difficult
time since Christmas 1991, when my uncle died.
When we celebrated Christmas 1994 with my parents, we decided to write “To Uncle Todd” on my brother’s gift tag. He didn’t notice it so I told him to look again. He asked, “Does this mean what I think it means?” I said yes to my excited parents and brother, grandparents and uncle for the first time. We celebrated our fourth wedding anniversary on Dec. 29, 1994, with the promise of a gift we’d always wanted: a baby. Kristen Marie was born July 27, 1995, and has blessed our life ever since.
Dawn Schutter Good Hope Lutheran Church, Titonka, Iowa
Smiles, songs, stories On the third day of my new job at a care facility for Alzheimer’s/ dementia residents, one of the first people I met was a man who couldn’t speak but could sing “Jesus Loves Me.” That was seven years ago and I feel blessed every day by what my residents give to me: their smiles, songs and stories. I didn’t know them before their illnesses, but the joy they give me now is so rewarding.
Judy Taylor All Saints Lutheran Church, Blue Springs, Mo. A stole in waiting
In November 2006, my parents gave me an early Christmas present: a Guatemalan stole, hoping I would wear it when I preached for the first time at my fieldwork congrega- tion. My supervisor diplomatically explained that the stole is a symbol of ordained ministry, something my parents didn’t realize.
The stole rested in various closets while I made my journey of discern-
Beth M. Woodward wears the stole that represents her family’s love.
ment and transformation. Five years later, my parents placed that stole on my shoulders during the rite of ordination. To me, it also symbolizes love, instruction, the unfailing sup- port of my family, and the commu- nity of saints.
Beth M. Woodard Zion Lutheran Church, Hickory, N.C.
Gift certificates As my brother, his wife and I age, time is the most valuable gift we can give each other. Last Christmas, I gave each of them a coupon for a day alone with me—doing whatever they wanted at my expense. We live near Harrisburg, Pa., and Jon chose a drive west on Route 30 to Shanksville, where Flight 93 crashed on 9/11/01. The Lincoln Highway holds cherished child- hood memories and we spent time reminiscing. The land on which the plane crashed had belonged to our Great Uncle Oscar Coleman and we remember family reunions on his farm. We drove to our mother’s hometown where we had played with our cousins, and stopped at the dental office where our dad had practiced in the 1920s. Eventually, we sang as we drove home. His wife Emily and I will also spend the day driving so she can take pictures for her art class.
This was also a wonderful gift to
myself—time with those I love. Nancy Coleman Miller
St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church, Carlisle, Pa.
December 2011 25
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