When I was a boy, my family had the tradition of opening our gifts on Christmas Eve. But another tradition was that there would be one more gift waiting for us the next morning, Christmas day, from “Santa.”
I have a vivid memory, as a little boy, of being disappointed one Christmas Eve that the thing I wanted most was not among my unwrapped presents. However, I knew, I was just certain, that it would be waiting for me the next morning.
So on Christmas day, I woke well before anyone else and crept into the living room to see if my hope was true. There, leaning against the fireplace hearth was the package with my name on it. It was the right size and festively wrapped. I ran my hands around the edges and across the face of the package, hoping to catch a glimpse through the paper of its contents. There was no doubt. This was what I had been anticipating. But I couldn’t open it yet because I had to wait for everyone to wake up. So I waited . . . for hours. I sat for a while but eventually played with my other new toys while making a few loud noises, hoping to raise those other sleepyheads. But I never left the room, and my eyes rarely strayed from that wrapped package.
The anticipation was palpable. So much so that even as I write this post, I can feel again the ache in my chest. The longing, the desire to rip open that paper with unfettered joy. I knew what the package contained, but I had to wait to take possession of it and make it mine.
“And you will find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger” (Luke 2:12, KJV). A gift. Wrapped tightly. Waiting to be revealed. We can look and know exactly what the gift will be. Our Savior. Our hope. Our joy.
May you recapture the joy of anticipation this Christmas. For God’s gift to us is far greater than anything we can ever hope or imagine. So much more. And it is a gift the world is literally dying to receive.
Fun Fridays – December 16, 2022
Across a sadly dying land
where contempt takes honour’s place,
are there those who understand
still, that gift of simple Grace
that came to us so long ago,
and is offered every day;
do we have yet time to know,
and in knowing, turn away
from condemning angry words,
from the overweening pride
that’s turning plowshares into swords,
or will we stay content to hide
in a flatscreened make-believe
instead of kneeling to receive?
Wow, Andrew. Today’s sonnet is so powerful and true. Well spoken.
Roberta, thanks so much. It comes from the heart.
Both Andrew’s poem and your memory, Steve, made my heart ache AND swell!
My biggest anticipation this year is the Christmas Eve service God helped me put together for our little church. It promises to be incredibly powerful. We’re focusing on some of the names and titles of Jesus.
I know I will not be disappointed. 🙂 His name is wonderful!!
I think this is one of your most touching posts. Thank you for sharing your heart and the music of language.
Ahhh… the package had your name written on it…Isaiah 43:1 “…I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name [Steve], you are mine.” Merry Christmas indeed.
That was exquisitely well done. It did take me on that (long) journey to childhood and that same feeling of gift-opening. We were a poor, single parent (mom) family. God blessed us and even though I knew the gift would be clothes they were in a package with MY name on it. Thank you, Steve, for making my eyes mist over.
Thank you for this, Steve. Gratitude! Any time we complain, we need to consider our Lord’s choice to send his only beloved son from the splendor of his heavenly home (borrowing the last few words from a friend) to live life as a humble servant. He’s our greatest gift.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
With a smile, more gratitude, and many blessings,
Darlene
Love this!
Thank you for this, Steve. I only wish more people would get excited over the precious gift our Lord gave. God bless you and your family.
Capture the joy of the anticipation…
Exactly!
Anticipate!!!
We are so blessed to live in anticipation of His coming, moment by moment!
Hallelujah!
Rejoice!
Thank you for sharing, it brings it to life!!!
Touching my heartstrings as well. Thank you for the verse and reminder.
My curiosity impels me to ask you to share with us, what was your wrapped gift?
Steve,
Thank you for sharing that wonderful childhood anticipation of waiting for a special gift. I felt the ache you felt on Christmas Eve and the knowing excitement that your precious gift was wrapped from Santa on Christmas Day.
But most of all, knowing that Jesus was everyone’s gift that day is worth zillions of other presents we receive in our lifetime. Thank you for a beautiful memory. May you and your family have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Merry Christmas, to you and your family. Thank you for all you do for us! I remember “sleeping” on the floor by the front door with my cousin as we awaited the arrival of Santa. Her father brought in two identically sized and wrapped gifts, that we hoped held Kissy dolls (they did!). He claimed they were packs of cigarettes, to put us off the scent of our much-desired dolls. The poor man had waited as long as he could to bring in the dolls, but he just wanted to go to bed and we were still awake. Those were the days!