Christmas is a time for gift giving. Our hearts can be touched by the extent to which some people will go to get just the right gift for someone they love. This is well portrayed in the short story written by O. Henry called “The Gift of the Magi.”
A young married couple Jim and Della were anxious to get the perfect gift for each other. Della Young had $1.87 to spend on a gift for her beloved husband. What to do? She examined her knee-length brown hair in the mirror.
This was one of the treasures of the poor couple. The other was Jim’s gold pocket watch. Della wanted so much buy a chain for the treasured watch. Della decided there was one way to raise enough money to buy that watch. She left home to go to Madame Sofanie’s hair goods shop where she sold her long hair for $20.
Now she had enough money to buy Jim the perfect gift, an elegant platinum chain for his treasured gold watch.
She tried to make her remaining hair look presentable then prepared the evening meal. Jim arrived home at 7 pm to be met by his wife at the door. He stared at her in disbelief. Finally he composed himself enough to give Della the gift he had for her. She opened it to discover a beautiful set of combs she had wanted for ages, and then burst into tears; she had no hair for them.
When she recovered her composure she presented Jim with his present, the watch chain. He burst out in laughter and fell on the sofa. He had sold his gold watch to buy Della’s comb set.
All they could do now was to hug one another and be astonished at what love for one another would do.
The idea of giving gifts at Christmas most likely come from the example of Wise Men or Magi who came to find the Messiah of the Jews and to present Him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh as recorded faithfully by Matthew in his gospel, chapter 2 and verses 1-11.
They expressed a loving devotion to the Child Jesus, a right motive for giving.
There is a story of a young lad about 8years old, who wanted to get a good gift for his mother for Christmas. The best he could think of was a new dress. He planned well ahead, saved up money over several months and on Christmas Eve went to a ladies dress shop. He had enough money but when the clerk asked about the size, he replied,” she’s perfect”.
The clerk could only visualize what would be a perfect female figure. She selected a dress 36”x 24”x 36”. A few days after Christmas a rather stout and plump lady came into the shop with the dress to exchange it for one that would fit her better.
For that boy, when he looked at his mother it wasn’t physical appearance that made her “perfect” it was love!
What was God’s motive in the fullness of the time to send forth His Son, to be born of a woman( Galatians chapter 4 verse 4),and Who was declared to be God’s indescribable gift in II Corinthians chapter 9 verse 15? It is answered in these words,” God so loved the world that He gave His One and Only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John chapter 3 verse 16).
Lorne Moorhead is a retired pastor living in Flin Flon.
