This is the story that the tribe, br sitting together crosslegged, br children at their feet, br tell about br the first gift br br a man so loved his wife br that one day at that season of the year br when the sun is so low in the sky br that there is fear that it might disappear br br and only the wise old men, say br this is the time for hope and prayer br and the sun will return the stronger br and we, the more joyful br br this man so loved his wife br that one day he brought home br besides the daily food, br a beautiful thing he found br and gave it to her br because he loved her br br and she, overcome by this br new event, kept that br beautiful thing carefully hidden br to remind her of his love br for many years br br until one day, because br she loved her son so much that br she in turn gave that beautiful thing br to him br br and the moment she handed it br to him, the beautiful thing br shone more brightly than the sun br so bright that he shone too br br and the tribe say, they learnt from this br that gifts received are gifts unearned br but come from grace itself; they are not br magic gifts until br you pass them on to someone else br and then you are indeed blest by them br and grace surrounds you as the sun br br this is what that tribe say br sitting there crosslegged, br the children at their feet br at this season of the yearbr br Michael Shepherdbr br