The Gift

Have you ever read the nutcracker story? 

When my daughter Anne was little, she loved the nutcrackers and we watched every nutcracker movie and plays. I think I’ve seen all the nutcracker movies, especially the Barbie one, hundreds of times. If you haven’t seen that one, it’s a  really good one to watch with your daughter or granddaughter. I even took her to see the Russian Nutcracker play that came to Tulsa years ago. I’ll say that was very interesting. Anne collect nutcrackers and picked out a new one every year since she was 2 years old.

Now to the nutcracker story. Apparently there’s several different version of the nutcracker. I’m just going to go with the one most of us knows. The story goes like this, keep in mind, I’m keeping it short. The nutcrackers in movies and theater is like 3 hours long. Dont worry , I’m not going to do that to you or myself again.  How does 1 minute of reading it sound? 

 “Clara’s parent was having a Christmas party on Christmas Eve. Her godfather gave her a gift and when she open it was a Nutcracker. She was so excited to receive it. When the clock struck midnight, she dreamed and was shrunk to the size of the toys and saw the nutcracker and the mice fighting. She decided to help her nutcracker ( she loved her nutcracker)  she threw her shoes at the mouse king. It knocked him down.  Soon after the nutcracker and Clara went on journey to sugarplum fairy and all that. So basically, at the end, he became the real prince. “ My point I’m trying to get across is the part where, her love for that nutcracker. When she received the gift she was thrilled. I mean she was willing to do anything for it and protect it. She’s happy to have him and even danced around with him. She would go everywhere with him. 

Think back to when you were a little , think back to opening your favorite gift (and you all have a favorite).. whatever it was, think of how excited you were and how you couldn’t put it down…maybe even slept with it on Christmas night. Remember that? (Hold on to that thought)

Great gifts are something we treasure and of course, we as Christians have much more to be thankful for. Sure…getting a Barbie doll house is great, but what does any earthly gift compare to the gift God gave us? What makes this season so great is a gift, the angel said it best, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11 KJV

I challenge you to remember back to the excitement you felt when you received the gift of salvation…when you were first saved. Remember how you felt…how you told everyone? I’m saved ! 

I’m sharing this story to remind you we should not only celebrate the birth of our savior this Christmas but to celebrate the gift of salvation that he gave us. So look for an opportunity to share that gift this season….