Christmas is always a joyous time of giving in our house. There is hardly anyone in the family who does not join in the fun of finding the perfect gift for someone else.

Finding the perfect gift is some challenge, and usually requires a great deal of thought. It is unique and personal. When chosen wisely, such a gift will not only fill the recipient’s heart with joy, but also strike a deeper nerve that connects with the soul, and turn  it into a beautiful memory that the receiver can cherish for years to come.

And so, this year, I wanted to go above and beyond to find such a special gift for my husband. Usually, I just get him socks, boxers, or a sweater (which are all things he really needs as well), but this year I felt compelled to go the extra mile.

It was with great joy then, that I placed three special gifts under the Christmas tree, in addition to the usual ones.

The first one was a Christmas photo of the entire family. Beautifully framed, it featured an animated rendition of him, myself, and our two boys. He seemed to like it a lot.

The second gift (which was the most important one) was a personal song that I wrote for him, entitled “To the Moon and Back Again.” The song speaks of the love we share, how we met, and how much I love him. It shows my appreciation that he loves me for who I am and for always being the light in my times of darkness.

Needless to say, I was quite nervous about this gift. You see, my husband is a devout heavy-metal fan. But the song that I wrote him was everything but that. It was a love song.

And what’s more, I planned on performing it on Christmas Eve in front of him and the rest of the family – a sizeable amount of people! It really got me on my nerves. What if he didn’t like it? What if I started to cry? What if I got too emotional to continue singing? What if my voice cracked?

But I decided to face my fears and pushed through with it. I mastered the song onto a CD and had a special cover designed for the case. Then I put the CD in a box, hidden underneath a pink boxer.

I could see the surprised look on his face upon seeing the pink boxer (pink boxers aren’t really his cup of tea). But then he discovered the CD underneath, and I started singing his song:

From the first time, from the first time I met you
Sparks were flying, there is nothing our hearts could do
I had been searching, I had been wandering blind
Praying to find you and hoping to keep you as mine

My heart belongs to you until the end of time

We make the party never end
cause you love me for who I am
I love you to the moon and back again

You don’t want to change me, don’t want to change a thing
You are the light I see when the darkness wins
I feel safe, I feel safe in your arms
Your love protects and keeps me away from harm

My heart belongs to you until the end of time
And I’m so happy that you’re mine

We make the party never end
cause you love me for who I am
I love you to the moon and back again

It was really an emotional moment for both of us. The room was thick with love and romance. I somehow managed to get through the entire song without my voice cracking or me starting to cry.

As soon as I was done, he came over to me, took me in his arms, and hugged me. “It is the perfect gift,” he said. And afterward he whispered in my ear, “I love you.” At that moment, I gave him the final gift. It was a music video of the song (see it here), featuring photos and pictures of the two of us and our boys over the past few years.

I could sense my husband surprise and appreciation for these three special gifts. He appreciated the effort I had put into it, and that made me feel good inside.

But surprisingly, the one who was blessed the most by these gifts, was me. I had so much joy, dreaming them up and putting them together. In my busy life, it reminded me how much I love him. It taught me to be thankful for the miracle of having him in my life, and for the two children we have together.

And so, this Christmas, I was taught an amazing lesson. Giving is so much more blessed than receiving. When we give, we find that, as givers, we are the ones that are blessed the most!