


My family went to a parish, which cooperated with a US-based charity. The charity sent us a parcel with lots of gifts for the most fantastic children’s holiday one year. All the gifts were in paper-wrapped boxes. The parcel came a couple of weeks before Christmas, so the colorful skyscrapers made of gift boxes stood in the Sunday School auditorium waiting for the holiday.

There was a Liturgy and a solemn meal on January 7, and after that, all Sunday School students received their gifts. The rustling paper was unwrapped with caution, and the students opened their boxes, anxious to find out what was inside. The gifts were different but no matter what you found in your box, it felt like a treasure: color pencils, postcards, notebooks, and knitted scarves. The children’s faces were shining as the kids unpacked their gifts, discussed them, exchanged the toys, and ran to show them to their parents. It seems that the gift boxes, packed with warmth and care, contained more than just presents. They had sincere hearts of caring people inside.
