Barbara Bush tells a Christmas Story about a little boy who really, really wanted a Red Sled for Christmas.
He sat down and wrote a letter to Santa pleading his case. He wrote:
“Dear Santa:
I really, really want a red sled for Christmas. If you will bring me a red sled, I will be a perfect little boy. I will be obedient. Whatever my parents ask me to do, I will do it immediately… Santa, I really do need a red sled.”
He signed the letter and mailed it,… but he thought he needed a trump card… an insurance plan… a back-up strategy. So, he went to the Manger Scene that his family had on display in their den. Secretly, when no one was looking, he reached over and picked up the figurine of Mary, took it upstairs to his room and hid Mary in his closet.
He then went over to his bed, dropped down on his knees and said: “Lord, I hate to get tough… but if you ever want to see your mother again… make sure Santa brings me a red sled for Christmas!”
Even though the little boy was confused about the real meaning of Christmas and even though he was far removed from the real spirit of Christmas, … one thing is sure… he knew what he wanted for Christmas.
Do you know what you want for Christmas? You may have already received it, or you're hoping tomorrow you'll open up that special present- a new bathrobe, jewelry, a new cell phone, boots, a new game system. It could be 12 Drummers Drumming... but after a 1/2 hour of drumming, that I think you'd get a headache. Whatever, even if a personal lear jet or even if it's a red sled, I still think you're still aiming too low.
What do I mean? While its always great to get new bling, I think we settle for less. We could still set our sights higher. It's just that getting to Christmas eve can be so stressful people begin lowering their expectations. I hear people saying, "Well, if I can just make it to Christmas." Christmas hope becomes Christmas cope. And there are so many things that can cause us to lower our sights. Could be the checking account is down to nil and the credit card account it up to the max. Maybe there's still a lot of cooking to be done for tomorrow's feast. Maybe you're a bit harried just driving to Troy. I remember reading once that Christmas prep. is like having another part-time job in December. So, Holiday hope becomes Christmas cope.
But, I am here tonight to ask each one of you to not settle for less. And deep down you know that and that's why you are here. You could have cashed in the chips and said, "That's it. I've done enough. I'm too tired. I'm skipping church." You haven't. You've picked yourself up and said, "I am going to church and celebrate the birth of Christ." Good for you. Now, aim a bit higher to receive the best Christmas gift of all. To help you unwrap that gift, I want to draw your attention to just one small piece of scripture. Here it is, my translation: After the shepherds have left, after the angels went back to heavensville, Mary held the baby Jesus and "pondered all these things in her heart."
What did she pondered? Many things. Let me pick out one. I've had the wonderful fortune of being with Tish at the birth of each of our four kids. There is a precious, holy moment when the doctors and nurses leave and that new little family is alone in the birthing room. It is just daddy, mommy, and the baby. Mommy holds that little child wrapped up tightly in a blanket. You look at that little, beautiful face: The perfectly formed mouth, the wonderfully crafted nose. You weeps with joy as she ponders the wonder of creation and thanks God. Dad tears up, or cries if he is man enough. But, you know what you feel? Here is your new born. You've just met him or her.. And you feel such love. One hour old--- and your realize you will go to bat for this child! If you are a mother bear you'll fight a wolf. A daddy lion, you'll protect your young. I will protect this baby because I love this Baby. On the first Christmas night, after everyone was gone, and it was just Joseph, Mary, and Jesus, I think Mary gazed at Jesus, and adored Him, holding him protectively. In her heart she knew that God loved this child. Jesus was God's son and God's gift to the world.
There wouldn't be Christmas without Him. For that reason we like to say, "Jesus is the reason for the season." But, set your sights higher and realize this other truth. Let it sink in tonight. "YOU are the reason for the season." (repeat) This baby is God's gift to you. To let you know that HE loves you. Warts and all.
If a loved one has searched for that perfect meaningful gift, you are touched, moved. You might open it and say, "You shouldn't have!" But, you realize, "Wow I AM really loved." That's what God did. Maybe He shouldn't have, but He did! Wow, we are really loved! For Christmas, we don't need to aim low, we can aim high- aim as high as we can. God gives you Heaven's gift, the gift of His Son, to tell you, "I love you." Tonight during the rest of the service imagine your heart a spiritual birthing room. Ponder the birth and gift of Jesus Christ. John 3: 16 reads: "God so loved YOU that He sent his only begotten Son." Remember that old Hallmark line- when you care enough to send the very best... God did that very thing. You are the reason for the season.
One December a woman named Cathy was given a baby shower. After all was opened, she found one present left. But this one wasn't wrapped in shower paper, but in Christmas wrapping. It bore a card that said: "To my daughter."
"This is from my Mom," she announced. Inside the box was a quilt. She tried to smile as she held it up for all to see. She hoped her Mom couldn't see her face. Her mom would know this was a fake smile.
The quilt wasn't pretty. This wasn't a baby quilt- pink or blue with Teddy Bears. It was just a patchwork quilt sewn with old material with different colors and patterns.
Cathy noticed a note in the bottom of the box. It was meant to be private. But, accidently, she began to read it to all her guests. As she read out loud she learned that the quilt was made by her mom just for her. The unmatched materials were remnants of her life her mom had saved over the years. She had cut pieces of material from her daughter's baby blanket and from her first Christmas dress. There were swatches as current as the shirt she wore to the doctor when she discovered she was pregnant. She read about a patch from her mother's robe; she had laid her head on the robe when mom rocked her to sleep. There was a swatch from her Dad's flannel shirt- the one she put on whenever she jumped from the bathtub wet. Cathy kept reading about each piece from her 30 year life and now there wasn't a tear in the room. Cathy held that quilt close to her heart. What at first seemed ugly was now a piece of beauty. It was made from her life and from her Mother's love. Mom had sewn her love into every stitch of Cathy's life.
That is what I want you to know. You can feel like you're on a runaway train during Christmas. But, tonight you're here because you know Jesus is the reason for the season. When God knit Jesus together in Mary's womb, He knit His love in every stitch of Jesus' life. In the same way, God can take the remnants of your life, and piece them together, and form a beautiful quilt. Don't lower your expectations. God loves you! Receive the His Christmas present- the best Christmas gift of all. May Christ be born in the personal birthing room of your heart. For you are the Reason for the Season.
