The Christmas I Don’t Ever Want to Forget
by Eric Ickes, Pastor – Waller Mill Bible Church
What could make this Christmas unforgettable for you? When asked that question, many people may first try to think of a special gift that would make all the difference. And there may be a few gifts that are so significant and unique that they could make a Christmas unforgettable. For instance, for a young lady in love, it might be a Christmas Eve proposal and the receiving of her engagement ring. For a military family, it might be the surprise of the deployed soldier making it home just in time for Christmas dinner. For some families, it might be taking a special “once-in-a-lifetime” trip of sight-seeing in Europe, snorkeling in Hawaii, or snow skiing in Vail, Colorado. And certainly, the gift of new life in the case of a baby’s birth, or the gift of rescued life, in the case of a loved one who had just been spared from death, are significant enough to make a Christmas holiday unforgettable.
But let’s face the truth. Most gifts that you have given, and most that you have ever received have been forgotten. In fact, by the end of January, most children in our community will probably not be able to perfectly recount every gift they will have received on Christmas day. So by the time many families finally pay off their credit card debts from their holiday shopping, the toys they purchased have been broken, lost, or stuffed in a closet, and some of the clothing may actually be already outgrown. As the years roll on, this Christmas, like so many others, will simply be forgotten, along with all of its gifts.
Oh, sure, if I try to think really hard, I can remember a few gifts from my childhood, but only because in my mind I have a fuzzy picture of a photograph of my brothers and I kneeling in front of the Christmas tree with all of our “loot.” In one such picture, my older brother and I were wearing our bowling jerseys, and in front of us sat our new bowling balls, and all of the other presents. But I can’t even remember the color of the bowling balls, much less any of the other presents. In fact, I don’t remember anything else about that entire Christmas season. And ironically so, by the picture in my mind, that was probably the biggest load of presents my brothers and I ever received. Prosperity is usually not the best teacher, nor does it always make lasting memories.
But I have experienced a Christmas that for the past 30+ years has been unforgettable, and I hope that it always stays that way. And its memories have nothing to do with prosperity. Actually, they are because of just the opposite. I was five years-old when my younger brother was born, in the midst of a lean time for our blue-collar family. Those lean years stretched on for a number of years more, even though both of my parents worked long and hard. They did everything they could to provide – we raised a large garden, we ate wild game and fish that we were fortunate enough to harvest, and my mother even had an in-home business in addition to her full-time job. As an elementary school-aged boy, I could not do much to help, except for helping with our garden and catching the occasional fish. Unfortunately, my trips to the river resulted in catching more eels (yuk!) than fish. But together we trudged along.
Then came that one special, unforgettable Christmas. My baby brother had grown into a little boy, but our family’s finances had apparently not grown much at all. My dear parents never wanted their three boys to feel the pressure and stress of their lean bank account. So apart from living simply and frugally, the only reminders came when either we asked for something they could not afford, or when we compared our clothing or toys with what our neighbors or classmates had. But as that unforgettable Christmas drew near, I remember my mother coming to me and to my older brother. She began to apologetically explain how they could not afford to buy us any presents that year, and that she hoped that we would understand how much they loved us, despite the circumstances. And then she asked us if it would be OK with us if they would buy one present for our younger brother, so that he would have at least one package to open on Christmas day. And we all agreed that we wouldn’t want him to go without a present. As the days counted down to Christmas, I tried to avoid the conversations with classmates about what we thought we would get for Christmas. The few times I dared to mention my “misfortune,” I was met with confusion and disbelief, and perhaps some sense of childlike pity. That “part” of Christmas wasn’t going to happen for me. But something else was beginning to happen.
My family’s circumstances were actually beginning to be used of God to teach me some important lessons. I had already learned about God’s sacrificial love for me, which He proved by sending His Son, Jesus Christ to die for the punishment of my sins. And by faith, I had already received the greatest gift of all – eternal salvation. And I knew in my head that the true significance of Christmas had nothing to do with presents that could be purchased at the mall. But during that special Christmas season, those truths were finally taking center stage for me, and were not going to be drowned-out by a chorus of ripping wrapping paper. My thoughts also began to be more focused on my younger brother, and the sacrifice that our whole family was making just so that he could have one present to open. Unfortunately, I think that I was also becoming a bit proud of myself, and of my “sacrifice.”
On the Sunday before Christmas, I did receive two gifts from our church – one was an orange, and the other was a small box of candy that was shaped like a church, complete with “stained glass” windows and a fold-up steeple. I did not eat them that day, but instead, placed them on or under our tree until Christmas day (my older brother probably ate his, and no doubt, asked me for some of mine!). On Christmas morning, as I was enjoying some of my candy, I watched my tiny younger brother tear open his present, which was a toy firetruck, complete with a moveable ladder and plenty of annoying sounds to boot. He was happy, God was teaching me how to be content, and I had learned that joy can come from denying one’s self in order to be a blessing to someone else. And above all, the true significance of Christ’s birth and self-sacrifice were not overshadowed by a mound of twisted ribbons and empty boxes.
I pray that you will have a Merry Christmas, and that no matter your circumstances – whether they be lean or prosperous – that you will understand the true significance of this Christmas season. And may His presence in your life make this an unforgettable one for you!
Pastor Eric Ickes grew up in west-central Maryland, graduate of Boonsboro High School, Washington Bible College (B.A. Counseling, Certificate in Bible), and Central Baptist Theological Seminary,VaBeach (Masters of Divinity) He has been married 18 years to wife (Jalyn) and they have three children. He has served as the pastor of what is now Waller Mill Bible Church for 5 1/2 years. [more info can be found on our website, on the “Pastor’s Page”]
Waller Mill Bible Church
100 Carrs Hill Road
Williamsburg, VA 23185
Services:
Sundays — 9:30 AM
Sunday School: 10:30 AM
Worship: Wednesdays — 7:00 PM Family Bible Study and Prayer
website: http://www.wallermillbiblechurch.org/
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