The Gift of Generosity: A TCS Christmas Devotional
As the Christmas season draws near, we’re reminded of a beautiful story about sacrificial giving and love—qualities we see in our The Christ School community every day. Here is a modern take on a classic story, The Gift of the Magi, shared with the hope of inspiring each TCS family to embrace the spirit of generosity.
“It is more blessed to give than to receive.” – Acts 20:35
The Story
At The Christ School, two students, Oliver and Emma, were best friends in the 7th grade. Both excelled in different areas—Oliver was known for his basketball skills, and Emma was an incredibly talented artist. They each dreamed of doing something special for the other this Christmas, so they saved their allowance, set aside extra chore money, and even did extra jobs to gather enough to buy something meaningful.
Oliver knew how much Emma loved to paint, so he decided to buy her a set of high-quality brushes to replace her worn ones. Meanwhile, Emma knew that Oliver’s basketball shoes were old and had seen better days, so she wanted to surprise him with a new pair.
Christmas drew closer, and each friend realized they hadn’t saved quite enough. But they weren’t discouraged; they simply gave up something personal to complete their plans. Oliver decided to sell his well-loved basketball, the one he practiced with every day, to buy the brushes. Emma, in turn, chose to sell her favorite sketchbook and set of pencils—the ones her grandparents had given her for her 10th birthday—to afford Oliver’s shoes.
On the last day of school before Christmas break, Oliver and Emma exchanged their gifts. They were overjoyed, not just by the presents, but by the love and sacrifice that had gone into them. Oliver realized that Emma had given up something special for him, and Emma realized the same. In their friendship, they saw the heart of true generosity.
Reflection
The story of Oliver and Emma reminds us that the greatest gifts come from the heart and often require a sacrifice. Sometimes, giving means giving up something precious to us, but the joy it brings others is worth it. Christmas is a time when we remember the ultimate gift: God sending His Son, Jesus, into the world—a sacrifice motivated by love. Just as Jesus gave Himself for us, we’re called to give to others in ways that reflect His love.
Questions for Discussion
- Have you ever given something that meant a lot to you? How did it feel to give it away?
- What can we learn from Oliver and Emma about the heart behind giving?
- How can our family give to others in a way that reflects the love of Jesus this season?
Closing Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us the gift of Jesus, your only precious son. Help us to give with generous hearts and to remember that true joy is found in loving others more than ourselves. May our family reflect Your love this Christmas season. Amen.
This Christmas, may TCS families be inspired by Oliver and Emma’s story, finding joy in the ways we can serve one another in love, just as Jesus calls us to do.