A Mysterious Gift… A Man’s
Reflection - By Mike Woodard
I looked at the gift. It looked
SO 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. I couldn’t ask whose it was; it seemed too special. I 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 my home, were filled with lots of
drinking.
Drinking always led to yelling. .
.
Yelling led to fights. . .
Fights sometimes went beyond
words . . .
In our home the “special” had been
lost in holiday events. This Christmas in particular was framed in angry
discussions of job loss and financial stress. I overheard a lot.
The GIFT was so mysterious; it
was a blaze of red color in my black and white world. It captured my mind.
I could hardly contain myself as
the time came to open presents! I am 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 my sister. . .
My oldest brother did not get it.
. .
My middle brother was given the
box next to it. . .
Next, my mom’s hand reached for
THE gift . . . my world went into slow motion when she handed THE mysterious,
beautifully wrapped gift to me! For just a moment I didn’t move. Maybe it was a
mistake… then I saw the hidden tag; it said, “To Mike from Santa.”
It was real. It was for me. My fingers began to un-wrap the box; I was still in
disbelief. As the paper fell away, I could hardly believe my eyes; a
brand new pair of black ice skates. New for ME! Being the youngest boy
with two older brothers almost nothing was new coming to me. Now right in front
of me were brand new shiny ice skates.
I remember nothing else of that
day beyond skating up and down the ice covered country roads. I was the only
one thankful for the recent ice storm! In the next few days, I’m sure I must
have broken some world record for the distance skated by a 9 year old boy.
That gift lifted me out of a fog.
I’m not sure what I would label the fog. Maybe it was the expectation that
somehow Christmas should be special. Maybe it was TV or maybe comments I heard
at school but somehow I thought Christmas should be a special time. The
mysterious gift made that Christmas the most memorable of my childhood. I never
found out who “Santa” was. I wish I could say, “Thank you” and let them know
how much that gift meant. Someone’s kindness made a significant impact and a
memorable Christmas.
I 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 my life. This mysterious gift came in the
form of a baby born in a stable. When I 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 boys. All this is wonderful, mysterious and beautiful.
What a gift. Since I do know THIS gift giver, I 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.
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