THE MOST SIGNIFICANT GIFT
During the Great Depression
in America, Marjorie Talcott was married with one child. Her family managed to scrape their way
through, but as Christmas approached Marjorie and her husband were very disappointed
that they would not be able to buy presents.
The week before Christmas
they explained to their six-year-old son, Pete, that there would be no
store-bought presents this Christmas. “But
I’ll tell you what we can do,” said Pete’s father. “We can make pictures of the presents we would
like to give to each other.”
It was a busy week as Marjorie and her husband set to work. Christmas Day arrived and the family rose to
find their skimpy little tree made most magnificent by the picture presents with
which it had been adorned. There was luxury
beyond imagination in the hanging pictures: a black limousine and red speedboat
for Dad, a diamond bracelet and fur coat for Mom, a camping tent and a beautiful
swimming pool for Pete.
Then Pete pulled out his present, a crayon drawing of a man, a
woman and a child with their arms around each other laughing and loving on each
other. Under the picture just one word
was inscribed: “US.” Years later,
Marjorie wrote that it was the richest, most satisfying Christmas they ever
had.
It took a present-less
Christmas to remind their family that the greatest gift we can ever offer is
ourselves, our presence. This is the
great gift that Christ offers to us, not only at Christmas but throughout the
year, the matchless grace and gift of Himself. If He was to draw a gift, perhaps it would be
similar to Pete’s – although with four people – with arms lovingly encircling
one another in a wonderful portrait of genuine family love, with Christ at the
center.
Make sure that HE and HIS
LOVE are at the heart of your plans to celebrate Christmas.
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