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 lovingly 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 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 were to draw a gift, perhaps it would be similar to Pete’s
– although with multiplied millions – with arms lovingly encircling one another
in a wonderful portrait of genuine family love, with Jesus Christ at the
center.
Reminder: Make sure
that HE and HIS LOVE are at the heart of your plans to celebrate Christmas.
Sisters and brothers,
be continually blessed and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO
MEET YOUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!
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