The Meaning of Goodness

Of all the Christmases that Mary Campbell remembers, her seventh stands out from all the rest. Mary was the fifth of five Campbell children (with an identical twin brother). As with any child, December brought into mind the dream of new toys, cookies and cakes, holiday cheer, and time off from school. But one week before Christmas, Mary's parents called the kids into the living room.

"Kids, I've have some bad news for you," Mrs. Campbell said, barely able to look her children in the eye. "As you know, things have been pretty tight this year. As a matter of fact, we are going to have to file bankruptcy, so we won't have Christmas this year. I'm so sorry. Perhaps we can make it up to you next year." Then she quietly walked out of the room to conceal her tears.

The kids just sat there for a while completely silent. Mary thought to herself, "What does she mean 'we won't have Christmas'? Does that mean I've been bad and Santa isn't going to come? And what is bankruptcy?"

It was a confusing time in Mary's life, but one thing became abundantly clear on Christmas morning - Christmas had not come to the Campbell house that year. No presents were piled under the tree, and mom and dad were not cooking our turkey in the kitchen. The family did, however, go to church that cold Christmas morning. When they arrived at church, all the other children were sporting new clothes and boasting about the Christmas presents they received.

"Hey, Mary, what'd you get?" one kid asked.
"Nothin'. We didn't have Christmas at our house this year.
We're having a bankruptcy."
"What's wrong?
Have you guys been so bad that you got nothing?
Didn't you even get a few little things?"

Feeling rather down and out, the family of seven went home for a lunch of hot dogs and generic macaroni and cheese. About an hour later, the door bell rang. "Maybe it is Santa after all," Mary thought as she ran to the door. Standing in the doorway wasn't Santa, but it was the Holland family, all eight of them. Each of the six children had smiles on their faces and two gifts in their hands. Mr.and Mrs. Holland held a turkey dinner with all the fixings.

As it turned out, the six Holland children went home from church and told their parents about how the Campbell's weren't having Christmas this year. Seeing how they had been so richly blessed, the children decided to pick two of their toys and wrap them up for the Campbells. Mom and Dad joined in and brought gifts for the parents. Even though Mrs. Holland had Christmas dinner all planned out for her own dining room, she gathered up the food in boxes and baskets to share with a family who needed it more.

Mary is now over forty years old, but her eyes still well up with tears when she shares this story with others. "It was truly the best Christmas I have ever had," she told me. "The Spirit of God showed me that Christmas wasn't about getting presents but about giving and caring for others. It is about showing goodness toward other people. Every year, I share this story with someone new, because it demonstrates how God gave so freely of Himself for us."

That is how we show goodness. I had always thought that the word "goodness" in Galatians 5:23 meant, being good or good behavior. Then I looked up the Greek word, "agathosune" and found that it means a goodness that does good toward other people. It's not so much about being good as it is about doing good.

What is the meaning of goodness to you?....Please share your story.