Along with this elegantly-wrapped gift was a note that reads in part:

"Tossed around . . . broken . . . tumbled . . . carried to places where it didn't want to go. This is the life of sea glass. And this is the story of (human) life . . . but these are the things that shape us into treasures . . . "

These tiny stones remind me of other special gifts I will treasure this season:

—Gift of knowledge. Each year, we learn

more about the science of food and nutrition and how substances in food

sustain our minds and bodies. And as we begin to translate that knowledge

into daily habits, we begin to shape a future of improved health.

—Gift of chocolate. Cocoa — the fat-free part of the cocoa bean — is rich in "flavanol antioxidants" that absorb scary-sounding "oxygen radical" molecules and protect body tissues from damage. Look for a higher level of cocoa in a product and you'll reap a higher level of antioxidants. And dark chocolate lovers rejoice . . . dark chocolate averages three times more "oxygen radical absorbance capacity" (ORAC) than milk chocolate.

—Gift of moderation. As per above, if we eat the whole box of dark chocolate, we've missed a key nutritional point.

—Gift of surprises. A delightful treasure of assorted holiday goodies arrived this week from family in New Mexico. And dear friends in Carmel Valley, Calif., gifted me with wood for the fireplace. May we never get too old to appreciate the unexpected.

—Gift of sharing. Food is an important part of holiday celebrations. So I will break open that gift basket and spread it around.

—Gift of practice. Holidays come every year. And each day we have opportunity to try something different — such as a new way to prepare (and eat!) vegetables.

—Gift of comfort and joy. We tend to find comfort in food that contains substances (such as saturated fat) that can damage our hearts over time. Let me remember the joy of light eggnog.

—Gift of friends and family. These are the treasures that nourish my soul, even when the cinnamon rolls don't rise.

—Gift of Christ. For Christians, this holiday is truly a holy day. And it helps to be reminded that all the hustle and bustle is how we prepare our hearts and minds for this great celebration.

—Gift of time. These days are a precious few. Let me not get so bogged down with chopping onions that I don't take the time for a cup of tea with my dearest loved ones.

Where we find ourselves this Christmas may not be what we had anticipated or planned. But it may very well be the place where treasures are found. And that is truly the gift of Christmas.