“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to
you;
he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you;
You
will find a baby wrapped in clothes
and lying in a manger.”
Luke 2:11-12 (NIV)
I’ll never forget that precious little boy: freckles
scattered like tiny raindrops across his entire face, including his ears. Big
brown eyes partially obscured by long, wispy blonde hair that brushed against
an ever present smile minus two front teeth.
Jerry was a first grade student at the elementary
school where I worked. He came from a home that was short on money but long on
love. His clothes were always someone else’s property first, but he never
seemed to care.
And this Christmas season was no different.
As a mother of three, I was frantically trying to
balance home, husband, kids and job while I shopped endlessly for the perfect “only
thing I want” gifts for my family. Somewhere in the rush of the season my focus
shifted from the birth of a baby in a manger to the number of presents under
our Christmas tree.
There was some success but at a price . . . a high
price. My Christmas budget was shrinking rapidly. “Why couldn’t my children
want something a little cheaper?” I kept thinking. “Why do they think they have
to have every thing they see on television?”
Those questions were occupying my thoughts as I
walked down the first grade hall and saw Jerry skipping toward me in his winter
coat that was about three sizes too large and worn tennis shoes minus the
laces.
“Hey, Jerry! How are you?” I asked. “I’m good, Miss
Nancy. It’s almost Christmas . . . Jesus’ birthday . . . did you know?” I
couldn’t help but smile at that comment. “Yes, I have heard that. So what do
you want for Christmas, Jerry?”
He quickly replied “Oh, I already know what I’m
getting. It’s the same every year.”
At this point I would have expected a child making
that statement to duck his head in disappointment and go on, but not Jerry.
As I knelt down to hug and encourage him, Jerry put
his hands on my shoulders and, with a huge smile, continued: “When I wake up on
Christmas morning, there will be a BIG candy cane under my pillow!” as he
licked his lips and rubbed his tummy in anticipation of that moment. “And then,
under the tree, I’ll get a little Matchbox car to add to my others. I can
hardly wait, Miss Nancy!”
As I hugged Jerry and watched him skip on to class, I
could not hold back the tears of sadness – not for Jerry but for my attitude.
Instead of focusing on Christ and His birth, I had gotten caught up in the world’s
view that the number of gifts you have under the Christmas tree determines your
happiness.
Christmas at our home would never be the same again.
All because of a candy cane under a pillow, a Matchbox car under a tree . . . and
a very thankful little boy named Jerry.
Father, thank
you for the most priceless gift of love you could ever send – the gift of your
Son. May we never forget that He went
from a manger to the cross for us. In
Jesus’ Name. Amen.
R.A.P. it up . . .
Reflect
- Do you
find yourself focused more on gifts than the Giver of Life at Christmas?
- Have
you talked with your children about the Ultimate Gift that Jesus gave each
of us?
Apply
- Sit
down with your children and help them write on slips of paper the gifts
that they can give Jesus this Christmas, like trusting Him, being
obedient, and sharing Him with friends.
- Have
them wrap each of their gifts for Jesus in a box and offer each one to Him
on Christmas morning in prayer.
Power
- Luke
2:11-12 (NIV) “Today in the town of
- Romans
6:23 (NIV) “For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal
life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
- 2
Corinthians 9:15 (NIV) “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!”
- John
1:14 a (NIV) “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”
- Isaiah
9:6-7 (NIV) “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the
government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful
Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
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