She looked at the gift. It looked sooo different than the others under the tree. It was so carefully wrapped and even had a ribbon tied in a bow. In rich red paper it was beautiful! This gift was larger than the others too. Something was missing… It didn’t have a name on it. She couldn’t ask whose it was; it seemed too special. She just looked in wonder. Just having it under the tree added something special to Christmas.
That Christmas, along with other holidays, was not special. Holidays, in her home, were filled with lots of misunderstandings.
And it always led to yelling. . .
Yelling led to fights. . .
Fights sometimes went beyond words . . .
In the home the “special” had been lost in holiday events. This Christmas in particular was framed in angry discussions of job loss and financial stress. She overheard a lot.
The GIFT was so mysterious; it was a blaze of red color in her black and white world. It captured her mind.
She could hardly contain herself as the time came to open presents! She is the youngest of four. Presents were handed out in order, oldest to youngest. Each time another gift was handed out the anticipation built.
It did not go to her sister. . .
Her youngest brother did not get it. . .
Her middle brother was given the box next to it. . .
Next, her mom’s hand reached for THE gift . . . her world went into slow motion when she handed THE mysterious, beautifully wrapped gift to her! For just a moment she didn’t move. Maybe it was a mistake… then she saw the hidden tag; it said, “To Alice from Santa.” It was real. It was for her. Her fingers began to un-wrap the box; she was still in disbelief. As the paper fell away, she could hardly believe my eyes; a brand new pair of pink ice skates. “New for ME!” she said. Being the youngest daughter with two older brothers almost nothing was new coming to her. Now right in front of her were brand new shiny ice skates.
She remember nothing else of that day beyond skating up and down the ice covered country roads. She was the only one thankful for the recent ice storm! In the next few days, she is sure she must have broken some world record for the distance skated by a 9 year old girl.
That gift lifted her out of a fog. She is not sure what she would label the fog. Maybe it was the expectation that somehow Christmas should be special. Maybe it was TV or maybe comments she heard at school but somehow she thought Christmas should be a special time. The mysterious gift made that Christmas the most memorable of her childhood. She never found out who “Santa” was. She wish she could say, “Thank you” and let them know how much that gift meant. Someone’s kindness made a significant impact and a memorable Christmas.
She now know there is another mysterious gift that makes Christmas special. Often it is missed in the busyness, emotion or misplaced focus of the season. This gift has removed the fog of despair that had a grip on her life. This mysterious gift came in the form of a baby born in a stable. When she consider that Jesus left the perfection of heaven, it is almost incomprehensible. He came to walk the planet He created. Each day, His heart was broken by the people he came to serve. He did this for nine year old girls. All this is wonderful, mysterious and beautiful. What a gift. Since she knows THIS gift giver, she can say “Thank you” for a life changing gift.
Have you considered Jesus, the One whose heart has been broken and He knows all your hurts and sorrows. Would you like to know Him personally? You can by simply opening up your life to Him and asking Him to come into your life, forgive you sins and be direct your life from this moment on. You can pray a prayer something like this:
Lord Jesus, I want to know You personally. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life to You and ask You to come in as my Saviour and Lord. Take control of my life. Thank You for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Bring peace to my world this Christmas. Make me the kind of person You want me to be.
If you invited Christ into your life, thank God often that He is in your life, that He will never leave you and that you have eternal life. As you learn more about your relationship with God, and how much He loves you, you’ll experience life to the fullest. Have a early blessed Xmas guys and girls, enjoy the story…and this seasons of love. and blessings….Alex.
