Jar of Cotton Balls

Posted by Elaine Marie Cooper

When I was little, my favorite Christmas tradition was the cotton balls. Now these fluffy white puffs might not seem significant in and of themselves. But my mother wisely used them to represent a tangible that you could not see: doing kind deeds for others.

Our instructions were simple enough. During Advent, each of us six children was instructed to take a cotton ball every time we did something nice for someone else. Without anyone else’s knowledge, we were told to secretly put one cotton ball into a jar. But it was very important that no one see us, Mom said. Only God would know.

I still remember looking over my shoulder more than once to see if anyone was looking. With five older siblings, that was not an easy task. Someone was usually hanging around, spying!

As the days leading up to Christmas slipped by, the jar of cotton balls slowly began to fill up. I would stare in wonder at the growing mound, amazed that my ornery siblings and I had managed to do that many kind deeds! It was probably a good thing there were so many of us!

But grow it did and by Christmas Eve, the jar was usually quite full.

And then came the best part. Mom removed all the cotton balls that evening and set them in our manger. Then, with eyes wide with wonder, we watched her place the ceramic baby Jesus right on top of the cotton mound. We now had given our gift to Him so that He would be warm inside the cold stable.

Recalling this scene brings tears to my eyes as I think of the wisdom my Mom had in showing that what we do out of love, we are doing for Christ and not to gather praise from people. Our kindness to others is a warm gift to His heart.

This Christmas season, give a gift of the heart to someone, and share His love. He is the ultimate gift.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (NIV)

MERRY CHRISTMAS!