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 9 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.
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