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Things aren’t important, people are.
I just finished reading a short story, “The Real
Treasure,” by Judy Gordon.
It was about a mother named Ann, who loved unwrapping
her cherished Christmas decoration--a beautiful nativity scene. She
unwrapped the noble wise men, handsome Joseph and the beautiful face of
Mary. She remembered finding it in a junk shop, hidden away on a low
shelf. She knew it would always be her favorite Christmas decoration.
She was placing each figure near the manger before
carefully unwrapping Baby Jesus. She was broken hearted when she found
that the small Babe had broken into so many pieces that there was no way
to glue it together again. Her heart was broken, as well as the nativity
set.
She set about making phone calls, knowing that she could
not find a duplicate, but maybe she could come close. Just then, her
young son came bouncing into the kitchen. His brown eyes showed his
dismay. “Mom, baby Jesus is missing! We can’t have Christmas without
Jesus.”
Ann put the phone down as his words pierced her heart.
She had been so upset over the broken nativity that she was missing a
greater treasure. She remembered that Christmas is much more than
presents and decorations . . . including a painted figure in a manger.
The meaning behind her son’s words flickered like a
candle, and then brightened to shine like a Christmas star. It’s true,
she thought. Jesus is the treasure, and we can’t have Christmas if we
are missing Him.
Wouldn’t it be great if every home could have a birthday
cake for Jesus? Before opening gifts, light a birthday candle, hold
hands and sing “Happy Birthday” to Jesus. Everyone would then be
reminded that Christmas was a birthday before it was a holiday.
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