Christmas Eve WorshipSeveral years ago, I heard the following story. A boy named Chad had moved into a new neighborhood and a new school. He was shy and quiet. One day he came home from school and said, "You know, Mom, Christmas is coming and I want to make a Christmas gift for everyone in my class. I want to make an ornament so each one can hang it on their tree."

Well his mom's heart sank for a moment and then she thought, “Oh, I wish he wouldn't do that,” because every afternoon she would watch all the other kids coming home from school and they would be laughing and playing together. Everyone, that is except her son, Chad. He always walked behind them, by himself.

But she thought, she would go along with him, so for three weeks Chad painstakingly made homemade Christmas ornaments. When the day came to deliver his gifts, he was so excited. This was his day. He put each carefully wrapped personalized ornament in a box and headed off for school.

Thinking that this would be a tough day for him, she had some cookies ready for him in anticipation of the pain that would accompany the fact that he didn't get any presents.

At 3:30, sure enough here came the big gang of kids all hanging onto each other with presents under their arms. And there was Chad walking behind them. His arms were absolutely empty. He didn't even have one present. As he came into the house he was saying over and over, “Not a one, not a one.” Attempting to console him, his mother said, "Oh, honey, I have some warm cookies for you.” Then she looked into her son's eyes, and they were aglow.

He said, “Not a one, Mom—I didn't forget a one! I didn't miss a single one. Now they all know that I love them."

I don’t know about you, but this story took me by surprise because the little boy had such an unexpected attitude and perspective. So often, don’t we expect that we will experience Christ in the predictable rituals and places of Advent and Christmas? And yet, it has been my experience and is the witness of Scripture that we find Christ being birthed in some of the most unexpected places and among the least anticipated people. This Advent and Christmas season, let us keep our spiritual eyes and ears wide open that we might notice the presence of Christ in those unexpected times and places or at least open to the element of surprise!

Peace, Steve

See this Messenger for:   

• Christmas Eve Service Information
• Blue Christmas
• Festival @ First
• Cookie Walk