Bible Reading: 2 Corinthians 8:1-5

"Mom! Dad just drove in," said Millie. "He probably brought a Christmas tree!" But as she opened the door, Dad came in, and he didn't have a tree.

"I'm sorry, sweetie," Dad said, giving Millie a hug. "I know how much you wanted a tree, but…"

Millie shrugged away and hurried to her room. She didn't feel like celebrating Christmas.

As she lay on her bed, the sound of voices drifted down the hall. Millie went to her door and listened. "I wish we could afford a Christmas tree this year," Dad said. He sounded very sad. "Since it's so close to Christmas, I thought they'd be marked down, but the prices were still pretty high. And with all the extra expenses we've had, I didn't think it was a good idea. But I know Millie's disappointed."

The hurt in Dad's voice brought tears to Millie's eyes. Then a plan began to form in her mind. Christmas is all about God's gift of Jesus and the joy He came to bring us, she thought. Maybe I can give Dad and Mom a gift of joy too.

Millie went out to join her parents. "Mom, can we bring out that little artificial tree we used in Grandma's hospital room last year?" she asked.

"Sure," said Mom, and she got the tree.

Millie pretended to be thrilled with it. "Help me decorate it!" As they worked, Millie continued her cheerful act. "I remember when you and I went shopping and bought this ornament, Dad," she said as she hung a wooden bird on the tree. "We had so much fun."

The angel they had used in years past seemed too big for the tiny tree, but they put it on the top anyway. "Mom and I bought this angel for your first Christmas," Dad reminded Millie--just like he did every year.

By the time they finished, Dad's spirits had lifted, and Millie was surprised to find that she no longer had to pretend to be happy. Her joy was real, and she looked forward to Christmas morning. She didn't expect to get many presents, but it didn't matter anymore. She had already received a wonderful gift--the joy of making another person happy.

–Esther M. Bailey