The Ultimate Gift

Jeff Stemler, CLU, ChFC, CFP – Sr. Vice President – Advanced Planning
(Asset Marketing Systems)

“He was exactly four years, six months, five days, seven hours and forty-two minutes old when he presented himself to the venerable Gatekeeper and waited for admittance to the Glorious Kingdom of God”

So begins the story of the “Littlest Angel”.

The story goes on tell how homesick and unhappy he is in heaven. When asked what would make him happy he said he had an old box hidden under his bed and it contained the things that were most precious to him.

His wish was granted, the box was returned to him and he was very happy to once again hold his beloved box and its contents. “When Jesus was born, the Littlest Angel had no gift for Jesus… except for his memory-filled box, and at the bottom of the box a limp, tooth-marked leather strap, once worn as a collar by his mongrel dog, who had died as he had lived, in absolute love and infinite devotion.”

I first heard this story when I was in the third grade and it has stayed with me all these years. Even at that young age, I understood this was an example of unconditional love, and that battered old box was the Littlest Angel’s ultimate gift.

With Christmas upon us, the thoughts of giving and receiving gifts are all around us.  But there is one gift that can only be given with unconditional love and that is life insurance.  We have nothing materially to gain by providing life insurance for our family, but we can know in our hearts that we have kept the promises when we got married and held our babies, to protect and provide for those we love.

Just like that battered old box, our gift of life insurance is our ultimate gift to our loved ones. 

Merry Christmas.