The Story Behind the Gift

“from you shall come forth for me, one who is to rule in Israel,

whose origin is from of old, from ancient days.”

              Micah 5:2                 

One of my favorite things about Christmas is when loved ones start opening presents I have purchased. Part of the fun comes in seeing the look on their face; especially when it’s clear the gift was something they didn’t expect, but are delighted to receive.  Yet along with that instant, I enjoy the moment after they have unwrapped the present and I can tell the story behind the gift.  Recounting how the present made its way to them.  

A number of years ago, I purchased Lori an attachment for her sewing machine.  It is something called a walking foot. I have no idea what it does. I know as much about purchasing items for sewing machines as I do about replacement parts for a nuclear reactor. For this project, though, I had a friend casually ask Lori about the item to confirm that I had the right part in mind and that it was something she wanted. 

With those details confirmed, I began calling stores and eventually found one with the walking foot. I told the person on the phone that I would be there later that afternoon. When I walked into the store a few hours afterwards and asked for the item by name and model number, they quickly retrieved it. I wrote a check for the purchase and began to reach for my driver’s license as identification. Yet the salesperson smiled and waved me off saying “Any man who knows what a walking foot is doesn’t need to show me his driver’s license.”  I didn’t tell her I had no clue what it was, but accepted her kind gesture with appreciation even so! 

It’s those kinds of stories that I enjoy sharing after the unwrapping of gifts. Not every present has such a tale, of course, but when they do, I take special pleasure in being able to tell it as well.  In part, because I’ve had to keep the account to myself, but also because there are times when the story becomes part of the gift.  Occasions when the present itself can evoke a memory.

For Christians, the story that we will celebrate again in a few days centers around the events described in the second chapter of Luke’s gospel. His narrative tells of a couple expecting the imminent birth of a child who travel for a registration in an ancestral community and find no lodging space available. The same chapter recalls angels and shepherds and a newborn spending his first night in a manger.  It’s all found in his verses, yet there’s a story behind Luke’s account, too. 

Seven centuries before the gospel writer lived, a prophet named Micah wrote of one to come from that obscure, small town. “But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah,” he said “from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days.” Such words are a part of the story, too, as they reveal that Jesus’ arrival brought the fulfillment of an ancient promise; that there was more going in first century Bethlehem than just the birth of another child. 

Adding to those Biblical narratives and the account of the magi found in Matthew’s record are the stories we bring to the manger. For anyone who is old enough to read this blog also moves into this week with memories of other Christmases. 

For we come as people who remember other times when those Scriptural words were heard aloud; perhaps as the candles flickered in a church sanctuary or as the family gathered around the dinner table. We come as people who have given and received gifts, some that were celebrated and others that were quickly exchanged. We come as people who have created and maintained cherished traditions accompanying the holidays. And we come with memories of poignant and funny, hurtful and healing events from previous Yuletides. In sum, we come with stories to be told and recalled, knowing that this year will only add to our personal narrative.   

So as you gather for worship and assemble with loved ones in the coming days pay attention to the stories that are told.  As others unwrap gifts you have selected feel free to share any mis-adventures that preceded that moment as well.  

And while all of that is happening, give thanks for the story behind the very first Christmas gift. The one that begins “In those days, a decree went out from Emperor Augustus…”

Incarnate One, thank you for a life-changing gift that spent his first night in the manger.  Help me to cherish and share that story once again, even as I add my own memories to the narrative. Amen.