A Small Piece of Bethlehem, a Big Lesson in Giving

 

While walking the ancient streets of Bethlehem, I picked up something that most people would pass right by—a small, simple piece of olive tree wood. No polish. No promise. Just a humble remnant from the Holy Land.

 

From the moment I held it, elizabeth said “I know exactly who this is  for.”

 

Back home, we gifted that small piece of Bethlehem olive wood to James Johnson, the son of Zach and Casey Johnson. James is a young craftsman—one of those rare souls who can look at raw wood and already see the finished form inside it. Bowls, turnings, carvings—his crafts tell a story of patience, skill, and respect for the material.

 

We intended the gift simply as a souvenir. A tangible connection to the Holy Land. Something meaningful he could keep.

 

What I didn’t expect was what happened next.

 

To my surprise, Zach later handed me a beautifully crafted writing pen—made by James himself, turned from olive wood. Smooth. Balanced. Thoughtfully finished. The kind of object that carries intention in every detail.

 

And suddenly, the meaning of the original gift came full circle.

 

This pen is special to me—not only because it’s made from olive wood with roots in the Holy Land—but because it represents something far deeper. Without fanfare or expectation, James embodied the biblical truth found in Acts 20:35:

 

“It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

 

I gave a small piece of wood.

I received a reminder of generosity, humility, and craftsmanship rooted in faith.

 

That pen now sits where important things are written—notes, ideas, reflections—quietly reminding me that the greatest gifts often come when we aren’t looking for anything in return. Sometimes they come back to us shaped by someone else’s hands, carrying a lesson far greater than the object itself.

 

From Bethlehem… to a craftsman’s hands… and back again.