Originating from one of my old blog posts about giving Donations as Christmas Presents:
https://www.conradaskland.com/blog/2008/11/making-donations-as-christmas-presents/
I received this email:
i am member of a Shaloom Church in Pakitan. i am founding a Christmas Tree But i have no meet a Christamas Tree. Sir Plz Send me a Christmas Tree. Before a 25 December . My Pastor is a very upset. For a Christmass Tree. My all Planing is panding. i am waiting your’s to gift.
My Name is : Shahbaz Tabassum
Address: Shaloom Church, New Shoukat Town, Ghazi Road,
Lahore-Pakistan.
Pastore Name: *Edited*
Contact No. *Edited*
God Bless You and your family and i wish you good luck in his future life.
MY RESPONSE:
Shahbaz,
I greet you and your family with Shalom and Sha-na-na. I also wish you and your family good luck – but if you like you can receive the good luck in this life; you do not have to wait until the next one. This choice is up to you.
As for the Christmas Tree. If I send you a Christmas Tree then you will just have a tree. And I don’t think that’s very much in the Christmas spirit. So instead, I will give you a wonderful Christmas gift by NOT sending you a Christmas tree.
The two Christmas gifts I give you are:
- The gift of patience for your pastor who is upset about the Christmas tree. With a good sermon he will light the hearts of his congregation more than any Christmas tree.
- For you I give you more time to spend with your family next year. If you are unsuccessful in getting a Christmas tree by trolling the internet for related blog posts – then I hope next year you refrain from doing this and spend that time saved with your family. I think they will appreciate it. I know I will.
God bless and Merry Christmas!