Isn't it nice to come home to a steaming hot cup of sweet, homemade hot chocolate, after you've spent hours out in the chilly snow and ice, building snowmen, making snow angels, ice skating and having fun with your friends throwing snowballs?  Although in Texas we rarely get to see much snow, on the winter days when we do get that lucky, my family and I try to make the most of it by enjoying a full day of play, followed by a warm, toasty drink to cure the numbness on our faces and hands.

When I think back to one of my fondest memories of sharing this homemade hot chocolate mix with my friends, I will always remember two friends in particular, who used to relentlessly chase me through the neighborhood, pelting me with as many snowballs as they could possibly make in one snowy day.  Their names were Chip and Paul.  They were the ring leaders, who gathered all the kids together on our block and persuaded them to join us in our day-long snowball fight.  Both of these guys were great fun to hang around and always nice to me.  We had a great time together!

After our long day in the snow, though, we were all tired, wet and freezing.  So, about twelve of us went back to my house for a warm cup of homemade hot chocolate, topped off with mini and jumbo marshmallows.  My mom had done a great job in pre-mixing the dry ingredients together for us, so all we had to do was pass out the styrofoam cups, add our hot water, stir and enjoy.

I will never forget the smiles on everyone's faces that day.  We were all so happy!  I will especially never forget the smile on my friend's face, Paul, as we shared our stories over our cup of hot chocolate.  On top of his infinitely contagious smile, he loved encouraging people and making them smile and laugh.

In fact, a few days after our snowy, fun-filled day, Paul greeted me on the front door step of my house, with presents in hand.  He had a beautiful rose and a Christian plaque, which he said he "had carefully picked out just for me and was hoping that I would like it."  Needless to say, I loved it!  The plaque had a truly meaningful and inspirational quote on it, which read...
____________________

"What You Are
Is God's Gift To You...
What You Make
Of Yourself
Is Your Gift To God"
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How true is that saying?  It's amazing to think how each one of us arrived in this world, with different circumstances, talents, gifts and qualities to add to the world.  Then, it was as if someone just said, "GO!"  After that, it was all up to us, individually, as to what we did with ourselves, our abilities, our lives and the environment around us.  What would we do to make a difference in the world?  What are YOU doing to make a difference in your world, your kid's world or the community?  Are you learning something new, comforting someone, passing along information and insight that you have gained with others, encouraging others, volunteering, teaching?  We all have different gifts to share.

Paul taught me that even the smallest acts of kindness and the sharing of our gifts can have a tremendous life-long affect on others.  With hard work, perseverance, patience and insight, we can all accomplish and contribute to the lives of others, even if it is in the smallest of ways...even if only by sharing a smile and an encouraging thought, over a hot cup of homemade hot chocolate.