REFLECTIONS OF CHRISTMAS PAST
By Laura Edgar
I arrived home Christmas Eve and looked under the tree. To my astonishment, illuminated beneath the branches were five mysterious gifts labeled “To you from God”. I was excited! I knew no human could have put them there, for no one had been allowed entry into my high security, impenetrable home. I believed for certain the gifts had to have been miraculously placed.
The tiny gifts were beautifully wrapped in gold and silver. They sparkled with a kind of magic that screamed of snowy moonlit mountains and supernatural life. I slid the dead bolt and opened my front door to see if there might be evidence of who deliverer these gifts. I saw nothing save the snowy ground and starlit night. I turned back toward the gifts and picked up the first. It glowed with a beautiful pink hue. As I opened the perfect package, in it appeared an iridescent perfectly shaped pearl. Smoothly and swiftly a soft cloud traveled from the package to me and engulfed me in a sea of Love that I have never felt before or since. I thanked God and gazed upon the remaining four gifts.
I opened the second gift, which appeared as a great multifaceted diamond, like no other I have beheld! As I held it to my chest and felt its power enter my heart, it was clear to me that this gift was the faith that could move mountains. My breath was taken away from me in astounding awe! More precious than any earthly gifts, I knew I had received God’s best for me in these two enchanting presents.
Three more, I thought as I kneeled to pick up the third. Before I ever exposed this precious ruby to light I felt at peace. I set my eyes upon it as a laser-like beam struck me in my eyes and blinded me for a time, yet I had no fear, for abounding peace had found me and taken me in as a mother would her naked child needing warmth. I was without words to express my gratitude toward God. I then realized I had been talking to him with my heart, and He heard. I sat and drank a cup of warm tea as I considered the next two gifts.
I noticed that one of the packages appeared larger than the others. I opened it next. Emerging from the box was a tiny fairy. As she appeared attired in a flowing, shear white dress, her hands where extended to me in greeting. “I am Grace“, she said. “It is lovely to meet you”. She said no more, however I knew what had happened. Suddenly like a drowning man sees his life flash before him I saw all the times that she had interceded in my life’s near tragedies. I saw how God’s grace carried me through the past and would always, always carry me through the future. This was now to me a reality. I wept as tears of gratitude streamed down my cheeks.
I began to open my final gift with great anticipation teamed with exhilaration. This time a male looking fairy tore his way through the remaining paper. How odd I thought, this one didn’t look like a heavenly being, he seemed discontent and foreboding. “What have you for me?” I asked this miserable little winged chap, dressed in sloppy garb with unkempt hair. “Certainly you shall see!” he spoke abruptly. I bent down to pick him up and he slapped me with a firm little hand. Oh dear! I suddenly felt ugly and didn’t like myself. As I looked around, I was no longer aware of any beauty! All the precious gifts seemed dim and faint. Even my expensive Christmas decorations were unsatisfying and bleak. “What have you done to me you troll!” I felt extreme contempt for this miserable being that I now saw as an impish little beast. Surely this could not have been a gift from my God.
I concluded that he must have come from the other side. Then I shrieked “Of Satan you must be!” “Oh no, you will see the light again!” he uttered, “By me you will see the light! You will thank God for me one day! No one appreciates me” he said. “No one realizes my worth. I will rest now!” “But who are you?” I screamed! “I am your guilt” he said. “I cloud your vision and suppress your Love. I turn your heart toward resentment and shame. Some will do anything to distract themselves from my cloud. Others I turn in another direction when they meet me. They are the truly blessed. They know just how to return me to God.”
Return him to God, I pondered? Was this a mystery? Some never figure out how to return him to God? I realized just at that moment that I had an urgent task to accomplish. I went straight to a friend and told her about things I was ashamed of from my past, though I wanted to hide them away. I knew that in order to have my precious gifts unclouded I must confess these hidden mistakes. Then I spoke to God of my regret of those misdeeds. As I prayed for forgiveness and gave thanks, I offered Him this powerful little being of turmoil and darkness to be returned without a glitch. These simple actions returned my sight. The beauty of my awesome gifts was again visible. As the little creature spun away he yelled “You see! I am the gift that is only a gift if you return me to God”.