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Jawbreakers, Bubble Gum and Stick Candy
The Wrapping May Have Been Cheap but the Gift Was Precious
Matthew 1:23
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
The grandkids were at Papa and Granny’s house visiting for Christmas. Stephen and Isaac were playing in the floor and Jessie was helping Granny in the kitchen.
“Isaac and Stephen, what are you two doing in there?” yelled Granny from the kitchen.
“Nothing, Granny,” they replied.
“Boys, you better quiet down or I’m coming in there.”
Well, they stayed quiet for a while. But, Granny had to yell at them again. It was just another typical evening at Papa and Granny’s house. Shortly afterwards, Jessie came in the room where Papa and the boys were.
“Papa, I’m bored; there’s nothing to do,” she complained.
“I thought you were helping Granny,” he replied.
“I’m tired of helping Granny. Plus, it’s no fun,” she stated.
“Why don’t you watch television,” he said.
Jessie replied, “That’s no fun. Papa will you tell us a Christmas story?” she asked as she crawled onto his lap.
“Well, I don’t know,” he replied. “Let me think for a minute.”
Jessie told the boys to gather around because Papa was going to tell them a Christmas story. Isaac and Stephen stopped what they were doing, went over and sat on the floor next to Papa’s chair. A Christmas story, Papa thought.
“Well, what about the night before…”
“No, not that one Papa,” interrupted Jessie. “We have already heard that one.”
“What about the one about the snowman?” Papa asked.
“No,” said Stephen and Isaac, “we know that one by heart.”
Jessie said, “We want a Christmas story we have never heard before.”
Papa thought a few minutes. He had no idea what story he could tell them.
“Granny, Papa is going to tell us a Christmas story if he can think of one,” the kids said when Granny walked into the room.
Granny whispered in Papa’s ear. He just smiled real big and nodded his head.
“That’s it,” he said. “That will be a good one. I had almost forgotten about that one.”
Granny told the boys they had better be quiet, sit still and listen to the story.
Jessie asked, “What’s the name of the story, Papa? What is it about?”
Papa reached over, picked up his Bible from the table and put it in his lap.
“The story is called the wrapping may have been cheap, but the gift was precious.”
“Huh?” said the kids as they looked at each other with a puzzled look.
“What kind of story is that?” questioned Stephen.
“Shhh,” hushed Jessie. “Boys, you had better be quiet or I’m going to tell Granny. Go on Papa,” she said.
Isaac started laughing at Stephen.
“That means you too, Isaac,” Jessie said.
“Shhh, shhh,” hushed Papa. “Listen to the story.”
“Luke 2:1-14 says, ‘And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.’”
Isaac looked up and asked, “Papa, why wasn’t Jesus born in a hospital like we were?”
“There were no hospitals back then, Isaac,” replied Papa.
“But couldn’t he have been born somewhere else besides an old stable?” asked Stephen.
Jessie said, “They tried the inn, didn’t they Papa? There was no room for them, though.”
“That’s right, Jessie,” Papa replied. “There was no room for them in the inn or anywhere else for the Christ child to be born, except in a stable, in a manger.”
“Listen,” said Jessie, “what’s that?”
“It’s someone singing,” Stephen said as they all ran and looked out the window.
“Look, Papa; it’s the carolers.”
They listened to the carolers sing Away in a Manger.
Papa and the children waved at the carolers after they finished singing and watched them disappear out of sight. They all went back and sat down so Papa could finish the story.
“What happened next, Papa?” Jessie asked.
Papa said, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son. God loved us so much that he showed his love through his son, Jesus Christ, the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. The wrapping may have been cheap, but the gift (Jesus) was precious.”
“Wow, Papa, what a story,” they all said.
“You see all those presents under the tree, wrapped in pretty paper, ribbons and bows,” he said as he pointed to the Christmas tree in the corner of the room. “And see the tree all dressed in lights and balls of silver and gold.”
“Yes, Papa,” they all said.
“Children,” he said, “we have a lot to be thankful for. But the greatest of all gifts is that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was born in a manger wrapped in swaddling clothes. He was God’s love to us and God’s love to the world.”
The wrapping may have been cheap, but the gift (Jesus) was precious. Amen!
*****
Giggle Book One
Giggle Book Two
Giggle Book Three
Leftover from the Holidays
Tickle Box
Socks Without Matches
Bobby A. Troutt is a southern writer who writes a variety of short stories and children’s books.
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