There is something undeniably special about Christmas. It’s a season of beloved songs and stories, of treasured memories and traditions. People of all faiths and cultures can sense that something changes for the better at this time of year. In the most personal and intimate ways, Christmas brings people together.

And yet, for this very reason, Christmas can also be a time of profound loneliness for some. What brings joy and cheer to some families reminds others of what they lack. So many are in need, so many could use some cheer, so many wait for a visit, an invitation, a phone call — especially during this season. After all, noticing the needs of others and reaching out to them in love is really what makes Christmas so special.

A mother and father learned this truth as they raised their family. Their four children, like all children, always looked forward to opening Christmas presents. But their parents noticed that they were even more excited, more deeply joyful, when their widowed grandmother joined them on Christmas Eve. It has become a tradition now going on 25 years; Grandma joins them for a special evening meal, and they laugh as they remember Christmases past. Then the family reads about the birth of Jesus in a lowly manger and the angels who invited humble shepherds to come see Him. They talk and think about how His birth changed the world and what that means to them today. Almost every year, Grandma says, “I don’t need any gifts for Christmas; I just want to be with you.” Being together is what makes Christmas Christmas. Even though some of the children have now grown and moved away, across the miles they are still together, and Grandma is still with them, every Christmas.

No matter our circumstances, we can reach out in love to others especially those who may be forgotten or lonely. Buying a present for someone is easy. But being present for someone is almost always more meaningful. More than a gift or a card, they need you; your loving concern, your kindhearted inclusion, your time. These are the greatest, most meaningful gifts of Christmas.

Sometime after the birth of the Christ child on that first Christmas Day, the baby and His parents were visited by Wise Men from the East. They came to honor the sacred occasion with loving gifts of frankincense, gold, and myrrh. Their kind offering gave rise to a tradition that now seems inseparable from the Christmas season: giving gifts to those we love.

Stories about gifts of love were later associated with Saint Nicholas and others, whose charitable giving became legendary and served to reinforce the importance of sharing with those around us. In such giving, it isn’t just the gift that is valuable; it’s the love behind it. The distance the Wise Men traveled and their love for the newborn King were part of the gift! Indeed, the true spirit of holiday giving is the spirit of love and of sacrifice for others.

One young man loves Christmas not because of what he receives but rather because of the delight he finds in giving special gifts to people he loves. He plans his gift-giving for months, deciding on just the right gift for each person on his list. He can’t afford to buy anything expensive or elaborate, but he can afford to give his heart, to think about what would bring joy to the one whose name is carefully written on the tag placed on each gift. Sometimes, when he thinks it would mean the most, the young man gives gifts of his own time and effort, such as a promise to shine shoes, wash a car, or do some other personal service. Not surprisingly, these are the gifts that both he and the recipient usually cherish the most and remember the longest.

This is a lesson that we learn again every Christmas, that it’s the love and sacrifice behind the gift that make it truly meaningful. Often the most valued gifts are given by those in need themselves. That’s part of the magic of Christmas: you don’t have to be rich to give gifts that come from a richness of love.

It’s been said that not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with great love. The true spirit of Christmas shines through when even small gifts are given with great love. Today, at this sacred season, take time away from the hustle and bustle to really ponder and feel the simple story of Christmas.

Each of us can give such priceless gifts of the heart. Our gifts may not rhyme, sparkle, or come wrapped in ribbons, but they will be cherished. Cards made at the kitchen table, pictures taken at the last family gathering, handprints of toddlers, recordings of childhood reminiscences, homemade ornaments that promise years of fond memories, in their own priceless way, these and many other expressions of love, as we usually say Afehyia pa.

By Samuel Enos Eghan