God went for the jugular when he sent his own son. He didn’t deal with the problem as something remote and unimportant. In His son, Jesus, he personally took on the human condition, entered the disordered mess of humanity in order to set it right once and for all. Romans 8:3 The Message
During the first years of our marriage, Randy and I did what most newlywed couples do, we alternated holidays between our two family units. The first Christmas we spent at the Mickler household, I fell in love with a nativity set which belonged to his Mom. When Randy’s Mother died, it was passed along to us, and we have it still today.
The nativity was not a Lladro, Lenox, or a Waterford one, but rather one very simply made. The set consisted of a stable with corn husks for the roof, the Holy Family, two cows, two sheep, one shepherd, an angel, and three wisemen. The stable had a little door on the front which folded in so that all the figures could be stored inside. Simple but so meaningful.
The baby Jesus wasn’t cocooned in a blanket, but rather he was awake and partially unwrapped with his arms outstretched. He seemed to be saying to all, “Come unto me all ye who labor and are heavy laden…I am here to save you!”
I have come to firmly believe that in this season of gift giving, the best gifts are the simple things. Years ago when we were newly married with children, there were no cell phones, no email, no texting, so when I called my Mama and Daddy or they called me, it was from a land line. It is hard to multitask while staying within the parameters of the phone cord!! My Mama was always sensitive to our busy household, and almost every conversation ended with her saying, “Don’t let me keep you.” She continued to always say those words even after cell phones became the norm. After she died, I reflected on how valuable the little things like getting to speak with her actually were, and I vowed then to always make time for others.
Sometimes, the best gift we can give or receive is the gift of time. For example, a week or so ago I was in the doctor’s office and just asked the nurse, “How was your Thanksgiving?” She teared up and told me about her recent divorce and how hard it had been to share her children for the holidays. After we talked for a few minutes, she said, “Oh, I didn’t mean to tell you my life story, but it helped so much to say it out loud!” The best gift I could give to anyone that day!
It’s interesting to me that we stress so much about what we will give our children, our grands, our family, and friends, that we forget that time spent together and valued is probably the best gift we can give each other. I heard the story of a wealthy merchant who decided to give gifts to a poor friend of his for Christmas. He gave the man multiple wrapped gifts and a sealed envelope. The poor man was so excited about the gifts that he forgot to open the envelope. His wife found the unopened envelope among the wrappings and trash and put it in a drawer for safe keeping.
A year later the merchant died, and during the remembrance of him, the wife remembered the envelope. Inside was a blank check with instructions to fill in any amount! The poor man filled in an amount and ran to the bank to cash the check, but the account was closed. He could have been rich, but he focused on the trival gifts rather than the gift that really mattered.
It’s truly a miracle when we stop our busy lives and carve out a little time to give someone the best gift of ourselves. The baby Jesus in our nativity set represents the miracle of Christmas. The figurine is so realistic that we can imagiine those little hands of His playing with toys, holding a Torah, and later fashioning furniture in his role as a carpenter’s son.
His little feet grew into strong ones able to carry Him from place to place to preach, teach, and heal. Those same hands and feet were pierced on the day he was crucified to hold up the body that was nailed to the cross.
The Son of God was born to us as a real, wiggling, kicking infant. God has given us the best gift, but a gift needs two people. One has given the gift, now it takes us to receive it! This Christmas remember Jesus is the best gift, and try to find time for the gift that keeps on giving.
Merry Christmas!
Infant holy, infant lowly, for his bed a cattle stall. Oxen lowing little knowing, Christ the Babe is Lord of all. Swift are winging, angels singing, noels ringing, tidings bringing, Christ the Babe is Lord of all. Lyrics by Piotr Skarga
