The long walk

I found at Goodwill sometime this year a book that I tossed in with my Christmas things. Guideposts for the Spirit: Christmas Stories of Faith. They're nice, short stories, easy to fit in for a moment in front of the tree. I especially liked this bit in a story by Norman Vincent Peale

There's a story about an African boy who gave his missionary-teacher an unusually beautiful seashell as a Christmas gift that's always meant a lot to Ruth and me. The boy had walked a great distance, over rough terrain, to the only place on the coast where these particular shells could be found. The teacher was touched. "You've traveled so far to bring me such a wonderful present," she said. The boy looked puzzled, then his eyes widened with excitement. "Oh, teacher," he explained, "long walk part of gift."

I think it's a nice thing to remember in the bustle. All of these things we do, they're all part of the gift.