When is a gift truly a Gift?
Humble appreciation trumps expectation and entitlement to bring Christmas joy.
“Mom, I know that I told you to get me a new phone for Christmas so you better be getting me the iPhone 12! I’m not going to be stuck with this old phone when I’m out with my friends!” It wasn’t a comment about what Toby wanted for Christmas. It wasn’t a wish. It was a demand. An expectation. Toby’s father, Tobias Stevenson, III, Esq., was the senior partner in a large law firm in San Fransisco and was not only well known for his success rate in court but was also one of the wealthiest men in the Bay Area. People had tried to speculate his net worth and he had been featured in local and national magazines for his success in the courtroom as well as the financial pages for years. Listed as one of the wealthiest men not only in the area but in all of California, the Stevensons had everything anyone could imagine. Their house was appraised at well over three million dollars and they had a personal driver/bodyguard who accompanied Mr. Stevenson everywhere. It had long been expected that Toby would follow in his father’s footsteps to Stanford to study law but that was yet to be seen. Toby, at thirteen, was still living as if the world would always be handed to him whenever he made a demand.
Whether it was new electronics, clothes, a car, or even preferential treatment at the private academy where he was barely making passing grades, he got what he wanted because his parents had the money and status to see that it got done. Besides, he was their only child and heir apparent to all that they had. It was important for them to keep him “happy” and be his “friend”. Unfortunately, he was not being prepared for a life of competition, failure, disappointment, challenges, struggles, loss, or even the slightest upset in his journey. He was also not being fed spiritually.
Toby’s life was one where he had seen his father climb professionally by working hard through a college that his grandfather had paid for. He had then built a law practice, as Toby saw it, on the misfortune of others. As he saw it, what was one loser’s misfortune was his father’s financial fortune. This, in turn, became Toby’s fortune. It was a sweet deal!
“Oh, mom, did you pick up my dry cleaning? I need those clothes for a party I’m going to over at Carolyn’s tonight. Also, I’m going to need some money. My credit card is almost maxed out and you haven’t paid the bill yet.” Toby’s continued orders to Lilly, his mother would have had most people cringe and, when the Stevensons did have company, many of them did. However, guests had become accustomed to this behavior from Toby, and those who couldn’t stomach it had simply stopped coming over.
A few minutes away, also in San Fransisco, in the Bayview community, a very different family was preparing for Christmas. In a small and humble upstairs apartment over a liquor store, John Cambell, who had just turned nine, was coming home from school. He was met at the door by his mother, Jan, and his 3-year-old sister, Michelle. His father would be closing up shop, the same barber shop that he had owned for tweny years. Until then, John had some chores to do, like cleaning his room, helping his mother with the laundry, and setting the table for dinner. Even though he couldn’t do a lot, he had learned very early that everyone was expected to be part of helping around the house.
John wasn’t thrilled about having to do his chores but he rarely complained. It had been something he had done his entire life and, just like going to school, it was explained that it was part of being responsible. The older he got, the more he was beginning to understand what that word meant. After all, the more “responsible” he showed himself to be, the more privileges he was given. For example, he was now allowed to go to the park after dinner to play with his friend, David. Just last year, he had to have his parents with him at all times. He was also now getting a small allowance which he was allowed to spend any way he wanted.
With Christmas only a few weeks away, John had decided that instead of spending his money on himself, he would instead save his money, as well as some he had earned by doing extra work for Mrs. Frazier, the retired school teacher who lived across the hall and buy gifts for his small family. He only had seventeen dollars but he knew what he would get. Michelle had wanted a new doll and John had seen one at the store for three dollars. His dad, who loved to fish when he had a chance, had lost his favorite lure the last time he went out. Nothing short of a replacement for it would do. Mr. Hugins, dad’s fishing buddy, had shown John exactly which lure in the store was identical to the one he had lost and it would cost him only four dollars. For mom, who sewed all the time, not only because she loved to but out of necessity, John would buy some thread of different colors.
Christmas morning came to the Stevenson house and as had been done every year in the past, the family gathered in the sitting room around the tree. Mr. Stevenson handed gifts to Mrs. Stevenson and Toby before getting those designated for himself. “Oh, you shouldn’t have!” exclaimed Lilly, as she opened a signature blue box from Tifany’s. Inside it was luxurious pair of diamond earrings and matching necklace. She kissed her husband on the cheek and smiled. It was a token of his affection she assumed, although she already had more than enough jewelry both at home and in the safe deposit box at the bank.
Toby immediately began ripping into his gifts as if in competition to see who could open the most packages in the least amount of time. “I better find that iPhone in one of these”, he announced as he found that the first box was a disappointing pair of calfskin gloves. When the next box did contain the phone, his eyes first opened in delight, only to be followed by a look of disappointment and anger. “I told you to get it in blue! This stupid thing is black!” With that, he threw the box down and stormed out of the room.
At six o’clock sharp, the Cambell home was alive and abuzz with laughter and excitement. Of course, Michelle was more keyed up than anyone else, mostly in anticipation of what Santa may have left and because she wanted to see if he left her a reply to the note she left him with his milk and cookies. (John said that he would).
As the family headed to the center of the living room of their small apartment, Mr. Cambell first stopped everyone and wished them a Merry Christmas. “I want to let everyone know that as much as we all want to open presents and see what new things we have here, it is important that we never lose sight of what we are celebrating today. It is the birth of Jesus Christ, our Savior. He came down from heaven for us. Let us be thankful for this and never lose sight of it”, he said, before leading his family in a short prayer of thanks. He then sat down as John took the lead in handing out presents.
When Michelle opened the doll that John had gotten her, she let out a squeal of joy, “Oh! I saw have been wanting a new dolly. Thank you John!” Similar responses came from everyone else in the house as gifts of love, small as they were, slowly came out of the boxes.
John opened the present that was given to him by his parents. Inside it was a thick, wool sweater. It was brand new, with the tags still on it! Not like most of his clothes that came from friends or the church clothes closet. Without a second thought, as soon as he said, “Thank you”, he slipped it on over his pajamas. It felt so good and warm, even though it wasn’t extremely cold in the house. Knowing that it got cold outside during the damp San Fransisco winters, John new that this was the best gift he could have gotten.
He immediately ran to his mother, then to his father, wrapping the biggest hugs his little arms could manage around them. “I love you so much. Thank you thank you thank you!” Knowing that it would get dirty if he wore it all day, particularly while eating, John was quickly advised to take it off.
Gifts are nothing new in the world. God gave the gift of life to Adam in the Garden of Eden and the gift of His own love then as well as when He gave him a chance to redeem himself after the fall. Gifts have been given by God and by loving friends and family members throughout all time and no doubt this will continue. However, the reason for this story is not to share any lesson about giving or receiving gifts. After all, while I did begin writing this on Christmas and finished it just two days later, the real message is one of contentment. The Bible reminds us that God will always provide for our every need.
Jeremiah 29:11 reads, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” This is truly assurance that God knows our every need and provides for them.
Matthew 6:33 gives us life instructions from the mouth of Jesus Christ, Himself saying, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
There are countless other places in Scripture that I encourage you to look to as well. Read Matthew 7:7-11; Phillipians 4:6; Psalm 23
May the Lord richly bless you.