The Best Gift
Another Christmas has passed, and all the gifts have been opened and probably put away by now. Some of my readers have asked me if the Amish give their family and friends gifts for Christmas or birthdays. The answer is yes, most do exchange gifts. However, while the Amish may buy some of their gifts, many are homemade. Did you receive any gifts that were made by the gift-giver? Did you give any gifts to others that were made by you? There’s something special and gratifying about making a gift with your own hands; although it can also be fun to shop for gifts, too.
However, the focus of this journal entry is not about the gifts we receive or have given to others. The gift I’d like to talk about is the one God gave to each of us when He sent His Son, Jesus to earth as a baby. God’s gift was not just for one individual, but to all people living then, or who would live in the future. God’s gift was for you and for me. All we have to do to receive that gift is to acknowledge Jesus Christ as our Savior, and believe on His name. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the word; but that the world through him might be saved.” John 3:16 & 17. Now, that is truly the best gift of all!
Amen!
Shirley
Wanda,
How very true are your words. God’s gift of The Christ Child to us was the Ultimate Gift. It’ the gift that just keeps giving. Thank God for His gift.
May you have a Very Blessed New Year.
Our Church had(has) huge (flat) decorated packages on the wall. The “theme” of the Christmas program was: “The Best Gift of All”. We as believers in Christ HAVE received the best gift of all! And we are truly blessed! Merry Christmas
Wanda thank you so much for being a great writer I’m reading the last book in the quilting club love it happy new year and God bless can’t wait for the 2 new ones
Wanda Thank you so much for your books and writings. You give me so much to think about as I read your material. Happy New Year!
We are very fortunate to have someone love us to send his Son. Everything else pales in comparison.
May 2015 be a year of learning, loving and as much as lieth in you be at peace.
Thank you, Wanda, for this great reminder!! In this day and age, the Reason for the Season seems to get shuffled to the back shelf!! Everything revolves around gifts. But, the greatest Gift ever given was the Gift of Jesus to the world!! He came to earth, he saves us from sin, and he died for us on the cross. What a wonderful blessing it is to be able to share this “Gift” to everyone!!
My prayer for 2015 is that more people will accept this great Gift that has benn given to them!!
Happy New Year!!
God Bless You!!
Wanda, first thank you for writing the most wonderful books. The books I have read are always so inspiring, clean and calming. I think we need more writers like you who write from their heart and not just putting words on paper/computer.
Thank you for all that you do. Have a blessed 2015.
For Christmas this year, my goal was to give my partner her creativity back. She loves to do wood working and painting crafts. She started a new job this year and her new schedule makes her feel like she doesn’t have time to enjoy her hobby. I found a site that sells the wooden pattern pieces already cut out that go with the various pattern books and bought a lot of that to try to jump start her back on the road to enjoying her hobby, since the pieces are already cut out and she won’t have to wait and put it off until she goes to buy woods and cuts it out. I chose one of the patterns to buy all of the paints and new brushes for, so she will be able to start right away. Hopefully it works and she will feel creative again.
I just love reading everything you have wrote. I did make gifts for others this year. Which i enjoy alot. But, I also have enjoyed what God has given to me. Family and friends that I love and care for. That is the greatest gift every.
The greatest Gift of Christmas is not seeing how much money you can spend it is the LORD JESUS CHRIST and what he has done for us. Spending time with family and friends, the greatest gift is Love.
I love giving gifts that I have made. I gave my daughter a hand-knit scarf, my granddaughter a drawstring knitted hat, and my other granddaughter a scarf with just the perfect colors to go with her coat. I used to be what I call a “yarn snob” where I would go to a specialty yarn store with very high-end yarns costing an arm and a leg. After years of doing this, I decided to check out the regular yarns at big box craft stores and found their yarn to be much less expensive. Maybe it is not as high quality as the “snobby” yarn, and it is probably not perfect. But what better way to honor Jesus Christ who came to us in a lowly manger, not perfect at all to honor a King. He was not delivered in a “snobby” hotel. Yes, he was perfect in every way, but he serves a very non-perfect world. So I am very happy with my change of heart in thinking I need to work with the most perfect of items to make a perfect gift for my loved ones.
I found out that you must keep the love going. My sister lost her husband to cancer just before Thanksgiving and it made me realize you have to keep up with family and not let your life get in the way. So spreading the love is the best gift I can give.
I love you books. God has truly blessed you with a great gift of story telling!!
So true, and beautifully said! Looking forward to reading your new releases this year.
Hope you have a blessed New Year. Looking forward to reading more if your books
Happy New Year to you Wanda! Hope you have a wonderful and blessed 2015. I love reading your newsletter and books. Looking forward to more of your books in 2015.
God’s gift is truly the greatest gift to all mankind. Blessed New Year to you.
Wanda – I love reading your books. Happy New Year and all the best in 2015 to you and your family.
In the past I have given many homemade “from the heart” gifts to my family and friends.
I have been visiting Lancaster, PA (Amish country) since I was a little girl. I admire their way of living and their strong belief in God.
Wanda, I agree. God’s gift is the greatest gift that can be given or received. John 3:16 is one of my favorite verses.
You have a wonderful gift of writing. I am a high school English 10 teacher and I reference your stories in class. I have received many wonderful hand made Christmas gifts in my life but I agree the best gift was Jesus dying on the cross for my sins. Happy New Year!
The best gift of all is Jesus and the sacrifice he made for us so we may have salvation and live eternally with Him. He has given each one of us gifts that we are to share with others, being writing, music, hospitality, and helping those in need. Thank you for your wonderful books
that “lift me up” and give me encouragement and delight in reading them. Have a blessed
New Year!
Well said Wanda! The best Christmas gift any of us could receive, is Jesus!
Isn’t God good? To think that all of us have the promise of eternal life because of that special little baby’s birth. This year, for the first time in a long time, I was unable to witness our Christmas program at church. I had hip replacement on Dec. 1 and our program was the following Saturday Night. Needless to say, I missed the great blessing that these programs always deliver. We never need to overlook “The Reason for the Season”. May you have a blessed 2015!
I make homemade cinnamon bread for all my children each year. It is our traditional Christmas breakfast. Now that they are grown and living on their own, I make 7 loaves, One for each child and their spouse/significant other. I received 2 wonderful gifts this year, My oldest daughter made me a photo album from her wedding and the best: my son came up from Florida to be with us. It’s the first time I’ve had my family all together for Christmas in several years. And, yes the greatest gift of all is our savior. We lost one of my nephews this year. He passed away on my dughters birthday and we buried him on his. So knowing that our Savior came to provide a way for famlies to be together forever helped to ease the pain of his loss this first Christmas without him. Happy new Year to you and your family. Looking forward to your new series.
Wanda I love reading your books. I’ve read every single one of them . You definitely have a gift for writing.
when I read your books / I can not put them down > thay take me to a place where things are simple . and people help each other . thank you and GO BLESS
Love your books. Thank you for your Amish information. Happy new year.
The season of Christmas we just celebrated is definitely about the birth of our Savior. The time we share with family, church family, friends, and neighbors. We are truly blessed with more things than we can even imagine. God is so good to us. My husband passed away in June 2014 after a long period of cancer. God has been with me all the way and continues to shelter me.
I truly love reading ALL your books. God has given you a great talent and you are faithful to share with all.
Happy New year and hope it is a blessed year.
Yes, the greatest gift anyone can receive is Jesus Christ in their hearts.
Thank you Wanda for your stories. I have just started reading them & can’t put them down.
I also agree homemade gifts have more meaning.
We do not celebrate Christmas as many others by giving lots of gifts. We give donations to charities instead of buying for each other and family members. We take my husband’s sister out for brunch as a special treat for her. The most precious gift of all is that God sent His son to this earth to be a sacrifice for our sins. We are most thankful for this gift.
I have given homemade hot chocolate mix and homemade fudge for Christmas before. People seem to appreciate homemade gifts more, especially food. Lol Love your books!
Some are so wrapped up in the gifts that they forget the real reason for the holiday. Jesus is Lord. Have a very blessed New Year. Love your books.
My husband and I do not give Christmas gifts to each other because we feel we are blessed and have all of our basic needs met. Every year we anonymously give gifts to charities during the holidays.
When my kids were younger, I made a birthday cake every Christmas to remind them what Christmas is really about. I am so thankful that God shared His son for us.
It is nice to receive gifts & give gifts to others. The greatest gift is the gift God has given us, the Christ Child. To keep Jesus in our heart all through the year can help us in our daily struggles as well as good times. God Bless you on all the heart warming stories you share with us!
Jesus Is The Reason For The Season! He is indeed the best gift of all!
Christmas has come and gone, but the greatest gift of all , God’s Son, Jesus Christ, remains in our hearts and lives forever! Thank God for His indescribable gift of salvation through the shed blood of Jesus!!! Wish you and your family a Most Blessed New Year!!!
Happy New Year! I wish you peace, good health and much happiness. I enjoy reading your books. It seems somehow I can relate to each one in some way. So thankful for a loving God that has guided me through life, helped me through many trials and continues to love me as sinful and stained as I am. I pray each day that God will enable me to forget my troubles as quickly as I sometimes forget my blessings. Keep the books coming as you are touching so many with your writings. It’s always good to snuggle up with a good book and escape for a few hours. Blessings!
I am so very thankful for the gift of Jesus Christ. What an absolutely awesome present! I can’t imagine what life would be like for me if I didn’t have him as my Savior, Counselor, and best friend. I love love love homemade gifts, much better than store bought, usually. I love giving them, too! Thank you for all you do for your readers, Wanda. You are an amazing woman.
You ask it any of us gave home made gifts for Christmas. Yes I do every year. Mostly I give my grand children hats that I have made. This year I knit afghans for all 6 of them. I also made fleece throws for my 2 great children. While I am making them I think about the one I am making it for and say a few prayers that they will stay healthy and will find happiness. It gives me great joy to make things by hand for them.
I also am thankful for all the books you have written. I’m pretty sure I have most of them. It is a joy to read about the Amish and how you write about them. Keep it up. God Bless and Happy New Year.
It really is a gift. I taught a Sunday school class for mentally challenged teens. While trying to teach that Jesus died for you and for me. One kid responded to forcefully, “Fo me?” and said it with such awe. I think about HIS gift daily. Thanks for today’s reminder.
Yes, Jesus is the BEST gift of all. I thank him every day for that gift!
Susan in NC
susanlulu@yahoo.com
Every year, one of my favorite things is making many of the gifts we give. Since money was tighter than usual this Christmas, my being creative was put to the test! One thing that was a big hit were heart-shaped trinket boxes that I hand crocheted from doily thread & then stiffened as gifts for several of our Amish friends. They were thrilled! Such a simple gift but it meant so very much to them….not unlike God’s gift to us. No frills, fanfare, or extravagance but a true gift from the heart that means life for so many of us. Just like a one-of-a-kind homemade gift Jesus is truly one-of-a-kind and I’m so thankful that He came for all of us willing to accept Him in our lives. God’s blessings to you & yours as we start another year!
I would love it if everyone that we exchanged with homemade their gifts and I have said this to my husband for many years. I said it again when we were watching a series about a family that lives off the grid in Alaska and this year they decided to draw names and do exactly that. Well I make most of my gifts for people I make dish rags and pot holders,hot pads and I give them for Christmas and wedding. Then I also make and give them during the year when I think someones need to be replaced or needs more. Then for the children that are under 18 I buy all of their gifts although I did find a lady who made hats and a friend of ours who is having a baby we had her make a hat and we gave them that for the baby that is due to come in April. But the time we spend in church on Christmas and seeing a lot of people we have gotten to know was a blessing as we live in a rural area and my family lives in Ca. so with us in Iowa those gifts I have to mail.
Wanda’s journal entry is awesome. Our family has made the decision that we are giving to our little children and just enjoying each others company for Christmas. Learning to just love being with our family now that our parents are getting older.
Also Jesus is the reason for the “season”
Thanks Tammy
Wanda, Thank you for all your books and your lovely writings!! Amen!!!
I love to share what my LORD has done . when I losed my hus band ? he was always there with me ,,, and still is .. GOD BLESS BARB
Blessings for the New Year.
I enjoy reading your books so keep writing them, please
“For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the word; but that the world through him might be saved” There is no greater gift. We must all believe.
I have always shared the true meaning of Christmas with my daughter as she grew up and now with my grandkids – I agree that its important and that we tend to get caught up in the commercialization of Christmas.
Thank you Wanda for teaching us so much about the Amish faith and beliefs. My favorite thing I have learned is their ability to forgive. One of the hardest things to do for me but since your books I have been able to let go of a lot of my past.
Having another day to be blessed with all that God gives to each and everyone of us is a blessing we should all be thankful for regardless if our day may not go as we planned or like. I always like to smile and be upbeat especially for others & most of all thankful I have been given another day to share my love.
Amen to what you said. If more people believed maybe this world wouldn’t be in such a mess. Keep up with the good books, enjoy reading them.
Wanda I am so glad that I received the gift of Salvation 40 years ago. That was the best gift I ever received. I pray that all my family and friends that don’t know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, that this would be the year. Happy New Year.
I so very much enjoy reading about the Amish and their kind of life. Also admire their faith. We all need to take a lesson from them. Would love to win a book. I read all your books.
Excited to see the new book series centered around Arthur, Illinois. I grew up just a few miles from there . When I return home to visit my 95 year old father we usually go to Yoders kitchen to eat. We love it there. Great food.
The gift of our Savior.. Amen
Happy New Year to you!
I did make a couple of quilts this year for our sons and their wives, so enjoyed doing this and then seeing their faces as they opened them.
Thank you for your books they are so refreshing!
Thank you Wanda for all the wonderful books you have written and will write. I love to read your journals and newsletters, also. I am looking forward to a New Year (2015) to create new memories and to spending more time with family and friends. May God Bless.
This is so true! I think people forget the real meaning lots if times with the commercialism in today’s world. You see and hear less and less of why we are here and how we became.
It seems the generations coming up are all about what did I get for Christmas? I’m glad I raised my daughters in church so they know why there even is a Christmas. Thanks so much for the journal entry. It’s always wonderful to see an author speaking their beliefs. A lot don’t anymore. Happy New Year to you!
I really enjoyed your journal entry. We are thankful every day for God’s many blessings.
The true reason of season is not about the gifts we get, it is sad that is now the holiday is become so commercialized, I am focusing on getting back to the true meaning of the holiday.
Praise God for robing Himself in flesh and coming to earth to save us!
Wanda, I am Jewish, but am very devoted to G-d. I strongly feel and believe that there is only one G-d and that we all worship him in different ways. He watches over us and it is a gift every day to be able to awake each morning and go about your daily chores and such. My mom used to always say, ‘if it is G-d’s will”. When I questioned her as a young girls, she explained that it is His will to make things happen and He is in control of us. I have lived with this thought and have taught my sons the same. We attend services regularly and participate in all of our synagogue’s activities.
AMEN!
I appreciate your journal and your helping us put our focus where it needs to be this Christmas season. I liked your thoughts about New Year’s Resolutions and just making it simple by turning it all over to God.
How beautifully said. Most people have forgotten this aspect of Christmas! In today’s world it’s al gimme gimme gimme! Thank you for all your books!
Thank you Wanda for your newsletter and your uplifting words. I have a very busy schedule and LOVE to escape for a few hours with your books, when I can. I believe in surrounding myself with positive people and thank you for being one of them. I really do treasure your views on life.
In the past I gave away gifts I had made to family and friends. I love reading about the Amish. My sister lived near some Amish people and bought some beautiful things from them.
The greatest gift I’ve ever received is JESUS!❤️
I really enjoy reading your books. I never really knew much about the Amish until I read your books. Keep up the good work! Also, Jesus is the real reason for the Christmas season.
Love your books! So inspiring! Reading about the Amish way of life is so refreshing!
I love giving and receiving hand gifts.
I like the homemade gifts best, next to a good book.
Thanks for all the great books you write. I use to read them all until I decided to take on foster kids and got out of the habit of reading and my new Year resolution was to get back into reading so I went out and bought your new book thank you so much keep up the great work love reading and its not all that mushy stuff. Your true fan/
I absolutely love your books-looking forward to the devotional with recipes.
My dau. made up diff. creams, like face scrubs, foot soaks, and body butter and bought very tiny plastic containers with lids from the dollar store, and made cute little gifts for her teacher friends by putting the three things into quart canning jars. She gave me one set and they were really good creams. But it was made with love. We have always made some of our gifts, and my dau. have taken on those ideas now, like making the frilly scarves, and aprons, and even our cards. One family just made little notes about how many diff. ways they liked a person and put them into a fancy jar, so each day the lady pulls out a note and it cheers her. We can do so much with our own time! I enjoy all your books I read, and can’t wait to get another one. Keep giving out the truth Wanda and take a little time for yourself to rest!
I made a lot of treats and snacks for my family this year. In the past, I’ve given homemade greeting card sets. I love homemade gifts! I also love that you use your platform to give God glory. Jesus is definitely the best gift I’ve ever received!
Dear Wanda
I just love your books. I share them with the church when I am done. They look forward to them. I have been squirreling your books to read later. I will be getting a liver transplant ( I Hope Soon )
I am looking for a live donor. So after I find my special person, I will have many months to rest. So I plan to read the whole time. Your books talk to my heart. The good lord has been watching thru the last year at my worst,, so I will get my liver on his terms. I had to hide the books so I wouldn’t get tempted. This journal seems like the perfect thing for me. to write down my journey. happy and healthy new years.
The reason we celebrate is to celebrate the birth of our savior, all the rest is for fun and love to the person who is receiving a gift either homemade or purchases, which I do both.
Thank you Wanda for all your novels. You are truly a gifted author and I love all your books. Thank you for all the research you do in writing your books. I have always loved all of your books set in different Amish settings. They keep me captivated throughout each book. I like learn the daily life of the Amish through you. Have a Blessed year in 2015!
That is a great reminder of the season Wanda! My husband has recently got into wood working and I making themed clocks. This year we made different relatives gifts for Christmas! Not only was it fun but I know they enjoyed them; plus it was a little cheaper. This year was a little tougher to get people what we usually do. Last June I feel through a glass door and cut my left wrist pretty badly. Sense iv had two surgeries, probably 100 or more stitches, and tons of doctor vists and therphy. Which means a lot of bills! Lucky I have my family who helps make the bills smaller, car rides, and support. We even had to move into my mother in laws. This Christmas was much different than others. I can’t do everything I use to, with minimal function and all the extra stress on my husband! I tried my hardest to get what my husband really wanted for Christmas. I think he was happy. I was just wanted to show my gratitude with all he has done for me with my my accident and he’s never left my side. He’s my supporter that I’ll get better! God did bless us this year with a great new job for my husband that’ll change our lives, I’m still alive, and we have love surrounding us! It’s not always easy, but I remember this is all God’s will weather I understand or not. Sorry for the rambling! Have a great new year Wanda and Richard!
Hi Wanda, you are truly a gifted writer .Keep up the good work ….The past year was both sad and some good things happened. My husband who had been suffering from Alzheimer disease also developed cancerous lumps in his face .He was put on very strong meds for the pain because these lumps would grow and open ….nothing could be done after two surgeries. My son who had drifted away from us for a number of years came back to us .The Lord must have sent him because we really needed him at this time. My husband died June 22nd with his family around him basking in love. This Christmas was celebrated at my son’s home for the first time in many years .I’m sure my husband was looking down with a smile and feeling happy that things were right again.
I did make some home-baked gifts to give to neighbors and friends, and I received a few, too. I always enjoy giving and receiving gifts that are made with love.
Every December the school, where I am the Director, puts on a Christmas Pageant for the parents, grandparents, and friends of the children that attend. Each of the 90 children have a part which includes Mary, Joseph, angels, shepherds, wisemen, and animals for the nativity. We even have one of our infants represent Jesus in the manger. One of the parents created a wooded stable and another works the sound system. Each child has a costume that was hand sewn and saved for future performances.
I worked at this school for ten years as the Kindergarten teacher prior to becoming the director. It has always been my dream to direct a Nativity for children to actively learn the true meaning of Christmas, the birth of our Savior Jesus. Each December when the children celebrate the birth of Jesus the auditorium is filled with parents, grandparents, family and friends and many comment on how wonderful the program was. This pageant not only teaches the children about the birth of Jesus, it is also our gift to Him.
I made pillowcases for 3 different ministries to be given to children…
Hi Wanda;
My wife and I met you and your husband in lancaster to see the show last summer.Talking about
home made gifts,this is the way this world should be instead of running to the malls.It makes
christmas so much more special.The Amish are such good people,they would help you any way they can.It was nice talking to ya.
Our family is truly blessed in every way. I grew up watching my mother give to needy neighbors even when we were struggling ourselves. I have tried to carry on from Mom and pass it on where I can….cooking, baking & home made items. I enjoy your books very much….Thanks.
I have read must all of your books just love them. I have a hard time keeping up with what I have read. They are so relaxing when I have had a bad day. Thank you. I will keep up with what is coming out next..
I have read many of your books. In fact I love reading about the Amish, as my heritage is Mennonite. I see so many similarities between the Amish and the Mennonite. What reading you books has done is to understand the lifestyle my mother instilled in me.
We have neighbors, right next door, that help us out in so many ways. In return we help them when we can. Almost like the Amish.