Christmas Presence – by Laura Urista
We’ve celebrated many memorable Christmases over the years. Sometimes it was a special trip or a special meal with all the family gathered in one place which made the day so memorable. But the one Christmas that stands out in my mind as the most memorable was not a very merry one. It is so memorable to me because I learned a valuable lesson.
It was December “1990-something” and our daughter, Tawny, wanted a new bike for Christmas. After much searching, my husband and I found a bike that was the perfect size and in her favorite color—purple. With smiles of anticipation, we beamed with pride and joy as our wide-eyed little girl opened the huge box. But those smiles of anticipation quickly turned into quizzical looks of disappointment, because the box did not exactly contain a shiny, new purple bike. Instead, the box was full of assorted metal and plastic parts along with a fairly thick booklet of technical directions on how to put the bike together.
When we ordered the bike, the fine print had said “some assembly required.” As it turned out, “some assembly” became an entire day clouded by growing frustration, anger and impatience, as it seemed a degree in mechanical engineering was required to put this child’s bicycle together! All other presents that year paled by comparison as they were quickly opened and left behind, while we worked toward the all-consuming task of putting together “THE BIKE.”
At last, the bike was ready and Tawny was able to ride it for a few minutes before the sun went down on that “most memorable” Christmas Day.
Of course, she continued to enjoy riding her shiny purple bike for many days and months afterward. But I will never forget that Christmas, and the lesson we learned spending the entire day caught up in the intricate details of bicycle assembly.
Fast-forward some thirty years to last year. Our grand-daughter, Heather, asked for a green bicycle for Christmas. Both sets of grandparents decided to split the cost to purchase the special gift for her. But we suggested it would be well worth a little extra money to purchase a bicycle that was already assembled!
So, her special gift was ready to be enjoyed as soon as Heather opened the package. My husband and I (AKA “Pops” and “Gaga”) spent a perfect day watching Heather enjoy riding her new mint-green bike. We were able to truly enjoy playing with her and bask in the joy of watching her try new things because we had learned a valuable lesson about enjoying the moment. Now that we are a little older and wiser, we better understand that the greatest gift is not found in material things, but rather in the time we spend together with loved ones. In other words, enjoying each other’s presence as much or more than the presents.
It is so easy to get distracted and caught up in all the details of trying to create the perfect Christmas for our families. But as I celebrate Christmas this year, it is my prayer that we will all make an effort to be intentionally focused on the presence of the One this day is all about. I pray that we will take time to deliberately celebrate Emmanuel – God with Us. I pray that we will spend time focused on the Creator of the universe who became a tiny infant in order to be with us—his creation—and call us family. Through his life, death and resurrection, Jesus made a way for us to be with him and with all our loved ones forever. Jesus is the reason for the season and he is, was and always will be the most memorable Christmas present (and PRESENCE) ever.
Laura Urista is vice-president of PTM and managing editor of Plain Truth and CWR magazines.
Plain Truth Ministries | Box 300 | Pasadena, CA 91129-0300
