My Top Five Gifts

This has been quite the year, with challenges on so many fronts.?We’re?well into the charity “giving season” alongside?holiday shopping.?I’ve?thought about?some of?the best gifts?I’ve?given—and?received.?But I also thought about how I would categorize these?special gifts.??

Here?is where I landed:??

1. The gift of memories?

My son,?Aidan,?is a wilderness lover. One of his degrees?is?in?Outdoor Recreation.?I, too,?love the outdoors and while I have paddled a few canoes, I?never imagined building one! But COVID gave?me?the opportunity to do so this past spring. In May, Aidan started to?build a cedar strip canoe?from scratch, and I got to help him as he started, bending steamed wood?slats?and bending them around a mould.?It’s?a memory I?will always?cherish:?a moment of calm?in the midst of?difficulty. A chance to enjoy the simple things: working?with our hands, perseverance,?laughter?and the blessing of family.?And the satisfaction of seeing my son glide down the river in his beautiful canoe.?

2. The gift of adventure?

This past fall, I was able to go on an adventure that combined two of my passions: running and education. I?ran?the London Marathon to fundraise for girls’ education in?India. My daughter, Annie, who is equally passionate,?shared this adventure with me! Annie is?studying?kinesiology?at the University of Toronto and has been with me to the?field. She recognizes that not all girls have the same access to education as she does. We decided to run the marathon and raise funds for?Rise Up! Daughters of?India,?a program?focusing?on removing barriers to?girls’?education?as simple?as the lack of toilets in schools.?I think?it’s?fair to say Annie outpaced me, but the joy of crossing the finish line together?for a great cause was a highlight.??

?3. The gift of time?

Sometimes the best gifts are the simplest. My wife,?Yvonne,?and I have been married for?27?years?this week?and have?so?many wonderful memories together: travelling?around the world, to places like Zimbabwe,?India?and Myanmar;?starting our family; sharing our love for music; leading church groups; hosting big family dinners…?But when life gets busy and?we?feel like?we?barely see each?other?(even?when?we?live in the same?house!),?it’s?important to carve out time to do even the simplest things?together, like?preparing a meal,?going out for?a?coffee?date,?or?taking our dog, Oliver, for a walk?on the trails in the?neighbourhood.?

?4. The gift of hope?

We could use a little bit of hope, especially during this pandemic. But in the world’s most dangerous places, and many places where I have personally travelled to see our work and meet those we serve – places?like Afghanistan, Syria,?DRC, Iraq,?Honduras?and South Sudan?–?hope?is critical for survival.?The children and families in these places have experienced the worst life has to offer.?I had the privilege of meeting Masika?at a World Vision Child?Friendly Space?(CFS)?in the DRC.?Masika?is an orphan of war?because both of?her parents were killed by rebel?forces.??At the CFS,?she?received psychosocial and educational support?along?with other children who have experienced trauma.?Her resilience and courage inspired me. She is a survivor, not a victim. She?represents?hope?for that country.?

In these places?like DRC, recovering from war, hunger,?disease?and more may seem impossible, much less building a future.?Through Raw Hope, a monthly donation or one-time gift can make an impact on a?child?like?Masika.?My family supports this program, and we pray that?girls and boys?affected by conflict and violence will have access to support to live up to their full, God-given potential.?

https://donate.worldvision.ca/products/where-most-needed?

Your support?provides?food, safe water, education, health services and child protection.?

5. Gifts?that?keep?on giving?

Some of the best gifts?I’ve?received have been ones that are deeply meaningful and help make a difference in the world.?Through the World Vision gift catalogue,?I often?choose gifts that multiply in value.?We are?so?grateful for the?contributions from?major donors like the?Canadian government, the World Food?Programme?or our?corporate partners,?as?gifts?are?matched or multiplied?up to seven times!?I especially like the gift that?provides?new moms with prenatal care and birthing kits – helping both mom and baby;?boys and girls?with school textbooks;?men and women?with vocational training. These multiplying gifts help not only the recipient but their families as well.??

https://donate.worldvision.ca/collections/multiplies-in-value?

This?Christmas and holiday?season, I pray that the gifts you give and receive bring you joy and meaning!?If?you’d?like to share what memories and gifts resonate with you,?I’d?love to hear them!?All of us at World Vision join me in wishing you blessings for the coming year.?