“. . . she of her want did cast in all the living that she had.”

In the coming weeks, in home after home, the scene will be more or less the same: holiday music playing softly in the background; Yule logs crackling in the fireplace; stockings hanging by the chimney; holiday wreaths in the window; and popcorn garlands and glittering ornaments dangling from gaily lit evergreen trees.

Whether the ornaments are made of hand-blown glass from the hands of German craftsmen or of paper mache, tinfoil and ribbons from the hands of our children, they are cherished family keepsakes. Each is a reminder of Christmases past. To unwrap the tissue paper in which an ornament nestles is to unwrap a smile.

In a sense, our Christmas ornaments are the visible fruits of a richly blessed life, a reminder that we have much to be thankful for this holiday season, starting with the gift of faith.

More than mere ornamentation, these decorations are gleaming reminders of the true spirit of the season. The tiny angelic figures trumpet the coming of the Lord; the bell-shaped ornaments call to mind the need for prayer; and the blinking tree lights gleam in the night like the stars that shone down on the gift-bearing Magi.

As Christians, we, too, are called to be gift-bearers. But these days it has become difficult to find gifts that our loved ones actually need. Everyone has been so blessed that many of us will simply pick out a gift certificate or plastic gift card and tell those on our Christmas list to buy whatever they want.

It’s against this backdrop that we read today's Gospel story about a widow, who entered the temple in Jerusalem, wishing to celebrate the feast of Passover. The widow had little to share but, in the spirit of the season, she gave out of her need. In so doing, she became an enduring symbol of charitable giving.

There are many meaningful ways to give this holiday season, such as sending greeting cards that benefit a favorite charity, “adopting” an orphan in a third world country, or sponsoring a missionary priest. Then, again, your kids can probably come up with some very creative ways to share in the true spirit of the season. Why not ask them to help you? Like a hand-made Christmas ornament, you'll be creating a unique and treasured memory, one that will unwrap smiles for Christmases to come.