The angels sat watching as God distributed the Christmas gifts to his chosen on Earth, the precious gifts. As they watched He touched one of the humans then moved them slowly toward another of his creations. The other was a smaller creature, weaker not just from its smaller size but frail and injured. Confused, they wondered that the gift for this one was such a damaged creature. Had this human done something wrong? Perhaps they were given the gift of healing, although they seemed to be able to do little more than offer comfort as they helplessly watched. Finally one of the angels could contain their curiosity no longer. He turned to God, “Are you going to heal the little one? Can this human save the little one?”
God shook his head, “No, the little one will come home soon.”
“But it’s only a baby! This cannot be your gift to this human, look at their tears, their heart is breaking!”, the angel protested.
God watched for a while, then quietly said, “I know.”
“Then how can this little one be a great gift? How can this one go on through this time?” The angel watched in stunned wonder. It seemed a cruel gift. As the angels watched it seemed the human would shatter as the little one slipped away. But then to their amazement they saw God give them another little one, weak and desperate, fragile like the first and clinging to a shattered spirit. “This is too cruel!” they protested. “this human still hurts so much from the last.”
God only smiled. “This little one will make it. He will heal their heart. The little one is not my gift, my gift is compassion, and this human is special. They will be a teacher, teaching others what love and compassion are by their example. They will be a mirror of the love and compassion we hold for all creatures. They will heal and be happy, they will hurt many times and will hold my little ones in a special place in their hearts. The only gift I give to them is love, they are my gift to the rest.”
