I was told a story that is about 30 years old, by now. There was a mother of three young children. This mother was given a bathrobe as a Christmas gift by her children early on Christmas morning that year. At the suggestion and insistence of all three of her children, she tried it on and modeled it. “It fits mom perfectly!” the three young children pronounced. It was just about the prettiest thing they had ever seen. With glowing words and loving eyes affixed on her children, their mom heartily agreed.
Later, on Christmas morning, as mom, dad and the kids were getting ready to attend Christmas Day worship services, their three children approached them with the bathrobe they had successfully rescued from its place of honor under the Christmas tree. One of the children asked their mom, "Mommy, aren't you going to wear your pretty bathrobe to church?". They stared into the eyes of their mom and waited as her mind raced. This mom quickly glanced at her husband, who, with one eyebrow raised, was also waiting for his wife’s response. She quickly weighed the alternatives: Keeping her dignity in front of her fellow worshipers or letting her children down. It took not even the smallest part of a second for her to make her decision.
About a half an hour later on this Christmas morning, that prim, proper, wonderful lady walked into the church with her husband and three children wearing her new “prettiest” bathrobe. This mom didn't sulk, slink, or slither her way into a poorly lit area of the church. Nor did she safely plant herself in one of the rear pews conveniently located near an exit door with the hope of making an expedient exodus. In fact, none of those options entered that mom’s mind on Christmas morning. Rather, this mom walked into church and did so exhibiting both humility and thanksgiving.
This mom and dad strode into church with their three children like any other day of worship. They sat down where they normally sat; third row from the front, on the left side, closest to the center aisle.
After the worship service, and without any measure of embarrassment, to all who asked and to many who didn't, the mom said, "This is the bathrobe that my three children gave me for Christmas. Isn't it the most beautiful bathrobe in the world?".
During the Christmas holiday season, many people attempt, with strenuous effort and great difficulty, to capture and describe the focal point of Christmas. Christmas is more than navigating the crowds of shoppers and exploring the stores for the perfect gift. Christmas is more than the cards and the carols. Christmas is more than listening to the radio relentlessly belt out "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer!”.
Christmas is celebrating Christ in a manger, on a cross, and before His empty tomb in resurrection victory. Christmas is the celebration of the perfect Gift that God has given us in His Son.
Wishing you a joyous and blessed Christmastide!
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