#CBCGreatestGift receives even more heartwarming responses

It’s well known that Maritimers are a charitable bunch. Giving, it seems, is in the blood.

So when we put out a call for people to describe the greatest gifts they’d ever given or received, we expected some wonderful stories.

You haven’t let us down.

Alanna Erdle says her greatest gift was a teddy bear she got when she was six years old. She’s 28 now, writing, “that bear has lived on my bed every day for the past 22 years. He’s dried my tears and cuddled with me through many dark nights. He is the best gift I’ve ever received.”

For Mary Anne White, the greatest gift was a homemade lasagna and a hug in the hours following her mother-in-law’s funeral. The simplest things can mean so much.

Mike Guyomard cherishes a framed picture with handprints from his three children, titled “Precious Handprints of the Millenium.” It was a gift from his wife. Irreplaceable.

A woman calling herself, “Maine,” writes that her favourite gift was one she gave and received.

Just before Christmas in 2009, she donated her right kidney to her ailing brother. “It was the most wonderful feeling, of both giving a precious gift and receiving the joyous fulfillment that my brother was going to be OK now,” she writes. “It really is a gift that keeps giving for us both.”

Rob writes that he’ll cherish his greatest gift this year — his first Christmas with a new wife and two amazing sons. Three years ago, life looked quite different. His first relationship had broken down and on Christmas morning, he “woke up alone in a silent, empty house.” This year, Rob will travel with his family to Newfoundland.

“I didn’t ask for one material thing this year,” writes Rob, “probably because nothing can top the joy of having my loved ones present. It’ll be a Christmas to remember.”

We think so, too.

Please keep the stories coming.

You can email cbcns@cbc.ca, or tweet us using #CBCGreatestGift. We’ll keep putting them together to share with everyone else.

And remember to tune in to CBC TV for “The Greatest Gift”, a special program we’re preparing for the holidays. It will run at 11 p.m. Dec. 24 and again at 6 p.m. Dec. 26.