#CBCGreatestGift celebrates the gift of love

With this years search for the perfect gift now behind you, we invited you to enjoy one more compilation in our #CBCGreatestGift series.

We asked you to tell us about the greatest gift youd ever given or received.

• #CBCGreatestGift

Mary Richardson sent a beautiful story about a gift she received just this week: a package from a cousin in British Columbia.

It contained a piece of a quilt that my grandmother made, said Mary. She died before I was born and I was named after her. I never knew anyone in my family quilted, although lots of the women sewed. Now I think this must be where my passion for quilting came from.

Reverend Rhonda Britton recalled for us the Christmas when her cousins oldest son, Jordan, was stationed in Iraq with the U.S. military.

Her cousin was fearful, and heartbroken that he wouldnt be home for the holidays.

But on Christmas Dayhe blew us away when he walked through the door, she remembered. He had gotten leave but decided to surprise them.

It was just like a thunderbolt hit the room when he walked in, she said. It was just like, wow! This is just the best Christmas gift, not only to know that he was OK, but to see him and to see that he was OK.

The love of your family

Tweeting as @KTanPot, Kellie wrote of a proposal at Christmas 2008. "I said yes! His gift of love is hands down the best gift I ever received."

Jeff Ueffing tweeteda ditto to that: "a yes from my wife in 2003 when I proposed to her Christmas morning."

Darlene Eldershaw tweeted a story of family love: "30 years ago our then 6 year-old daughter needed emergency surgery four days before Christmas. #CbcGreatestGift getting her home Christmas Day."

TaraLee writes:"My boyfriend took my rolled up University Degree out of a drawer, dusted it off and had it framed ... Knowing he was so proud of me for my hard work and accomplishment was all of the Christmas gift I needed."

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

Homemade food and hugs

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

Rob writes that hell 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 is with his family to Newfoundland.

I didnt ask for one material thing this year, writes Rob, probably because nothing can top the joy of having my loved ones present. Itll be a Christmas to remember.

Please keep the stories coming.

You can email cbcns@cbc.ca, or tweet us using #CBCGreatestGift.

And remember to tune in to CBC TV for The Greatest Gift, at 6 p.m. Dec. 26.