SAMANTHA ELLEY reflects on the one gift that she’s come to be thankful for every Christmas…
Northern Rivers, New South Wales, Australia
PICTURE: jchizhe/iStockphoto.
“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift” – II Corinthians 9:15 (NIV)
I remember as a little girl one year for Christmas I got a Barbie doll. I was so excited as I had wanted one for such a long time! I’m sure in child years, that was probably the few weeks leading up to Christmas.
The wrapping paper had pictures of Santa on it and I kept kissing the paper and thanking Santa, I was so happy. My poor parents got no credit for that one.
“As I’ve gotten older and especially after the experience of losing most of our worldly possessions in this year’s Australian floods, I’ve realised that material goods don’t hold the same magic. The mystery of wrapped presents is still intriguing, but the one gift I have come to be thankful for each year has never been wrapped.”
The excitement at seeing the brightly coloured wrapped mysterious shapes under the Christmas tree was insurmountable every year.
My father made a point of guessing, often correctly, what was in each present, which was really annoying when you were trying to surprise him. Or he would leave all his presents unopened after we had ripped through ours at breakneck speed and all our attention would turn to him, as there was still mystery surrounding what he had received.
Once our presents were opened, the mystery and excitement disappeared. We knew what we had so then got down to the business of playing with or wearing them (clothes were always part of our present stash).
Eventually the interest faded, even that for the Barbie doll. The gifts would be stored or donated over time, but the routine would be repeated the next Christmas.
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As I’ve gotten older and especially after the experience of losing most of our worldly possessions in this year’s Australian floods, I’ve realised that material goods don’t hold the same magic. The mystery of wrapped presents is still intriguing, but the one gift I have come to be thankful for each year has never been wrapped.
When the shepherds saw those angels and the wise men that star, the greatest gift was about to be presented. As a little child lay sleeping in a local food trough in a barn in an obscure tiny village, He brought the gift of hope and joy for mankind beyond their earthly lives. The world was on the verge of discovering the peace and love that comes with the gift of salvation from our great Creator.
The world would never be the same again.
