The Christmas Fruit Basket

I wrote this four years ago. It felt appropriate to update it now.

2017 –

Confession ~ Our family received a holiday fruit basket last week. I am 47 but I acted like a 4-year-old upon receiving it. Ungrateful.

I delayed thanking the gift-givers (a couple) – and the husband called me to check if it was received. Sheepishly, I thanked him profusely and apologized for being late with thanking them.

He shared with me that his wife had had surgery a few months prior – and the co-pay had come due. $35,000.  Instead of dragging out the medical payments, they had paid the balance. I didn’t ask how – but I learned they canceled a cruise that they had planned to take in the springtime because of it.

I got off the phone and felt so truly, awfully, humbled. I thanked God for the lesson learned. 
Be grateful for whatever you receive this holiday season because you don’t know the sacrifice it may have taken for the gift giver to bless you with it.

That fruit basket showed me that I will always need the Fruit of the Holy Spirit…..

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things, there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23

Lord, let me share that fruit with others this season.

2021 –

Update ~ The gift-giving husband passed away two years ago and I miss him so very much. I would dearly love another fruit basket from him, just to be able to hear his voice on the phone when I called to say thank you.

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