I didn’t get what I expected: gifts wrapped in holiday motif, set off with red ribbons. Gifts of that sort amounted to hand cream and a box of mint wafers. That was all there was for me under the festive tree. Because I had no specific wishes or expectations, it’s okay—I am a big girl. I can accept a few gifts as well as many and show that I am stoic.

Then came Christmas Eve and a surprise I certainly did not expect. An email from the last student to share our home at Christmas time. We’ve not kept in touch much since she graduated from high school and moved to university.

Up until the past term, she had excelled in her American English classes. Though she has continued her excellent grades, she began to doubt her choice of English as a minor. The doubts took her to a surprising solace—prayer.

She wrote: I talk to Ed every night before I sleep, picturing him sitting, smiling with his white mustache, and making jokes in his old brownish recliner chair. I also talk to God every night, especially on nights when I have a lot on my mind. I’d pray in the same fashion Ed did—long and winding, often forgetting what my original point was, and ending it with  “And I name my prayers in your name, Amen.”

In 2018, she had come to us, claiming to be an atheist. After her freshman year, she changed the claim to “agnostic.” Now six years later, “I also talk to God every night. What a gift! What an answer to prayer!

Another matter that I had left in God’s keeping was spending money for my stay in England. On Christmas day, I received notice that a $200 Christmas gift had been deposited into my account by the family for whom I have tutored for about 15 years. Truly a Godsend! He proves once more that He keeps His promise made in John 14:13: Whatever you ask in My name, I shall do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. (KJV) We have six more special days to celebrate, and this gift will turn into more, adding to the celebrations.

Wow! On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, I received two totally unexpected gifts, better than anything I could have received under the tree. And they came without ribbons!