The Gift
Many Christmases ago, in a village closer than you think, a young man awoke to find a mysterious gift nestled among the freshly fallen snow upon his stoop. Curious, he picked up the package and searched for the tag. His name was clearly printed on the card dangling from the bow atop the present, but unlike what you or I would have done perhaps, he didn't open it. He didn't rip into the paper to discover its contents; he simply studied the beautifully striped wrappings, and admired the delicate ribbon wound about it. He gently shook the package to guess what lay inside, but never bothered to actually find out. Instead, he brought the box inside and placed it prominently on his table. Stepping back to admire it, he called his family to come and see what he had received so unexplainably. They gathered around and also wondered at the exterior of the package, but left shortly to continue about their business. The man, made temporarily joyful by the receipt of the gift, dec