MAGI GIFTS

We had all gathered at the appointed time.  Each one bringing gifts, food, hugs and wishes of good cheer to all the others.  The kitchen / dining room in our little house was crowded to say the least.  I had arranged the tables around the perimeter of the room so all the food could be easily accessible.  We would eat buffet style tonight.  We simply have too many family to sit around a given table and eat.  I believe the smells saturating the room from the goodies that were brought and the food cooking on the stove and in the crockpots had already made me gain 5 pounds. 

Bo spoke to God and thanked Him for the food, family and fellowship.  He asked Him to bless our time together.  We attacked the food.

In years past it was Chris and Derek, then Hunter who would not be interested in eating but wanted to get right into the “presents”.  This year that role was played by Renae and Andie. 

“Let’s do presents first”! they pleaded. 

Sometimes Grumps have to be firm.  “No way!  Eat then presents”.

The food had no chance of winning but it put up a good fight.  Wave after wave of seemingly starving consumers lay into the piles of confectionary delights.  They held up for a while but eventually begin to dwindle. 

“Now presents”?  They asked again. 

“As soon as Chris is through eating.  He is the last one”. 

Now the pressure was on.  He had no chance to sit and enjoy his food.  It was like boot camp at Alameda.  “Suck it up and get out”!

So we all gathered in the living room, crammed onto the couch, two to a chair, sitting on the foot stools, but we were there.

Derek and his family were missing due to illness.  He sacrificed his time with us to prevent us from catching the flu-like crud that he had.  Kinsley was teething and also had developed some of her Dad’s  symptoms.  Lauren was preforming the duties of a doctor and good mother. 

Matt, Kimberly, Strawberry, Josiah and the unborn baby affectionately called “Number 3” had celebrated with us earlier in the month.

So here we were, set, ready to pounce on the gigantic pile of colorfully wrapped gifts.  But first things first.

Hunter had already marked the Christmas story in his new Bible.  Chris took it and with his children and family around him begin to read.

“And it came to pass, in those days that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed”.

His voice was clear, strong and he continued the scripture reading. 

“And she brought forth her first born son, and wrapped him in  swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn”.

My first born son was reading to his family about God’s first born son.  If you don’t think you can get blessed hearing the Christmas story read, try that one on for size.

This  is not the first time this has taken place.  I have vivid memories of my Dad, Paw-Paw, reading to us.  I can still see my Mom, Granny, sitting by his side listening like it was the first time she had ever heard the story. 

I have had my share of times when I was the reader and my children sat around me listening to this same story. Somewhere, stuffed back in a spot where I placed it so I wouldn’t forget where I put it, is a video of Paw-Paw sitting in a rocker in Bo and Neet’s living room.  He is reading just as Chris did on this night and we all sit around listening.  I was warmed and blessed by that time.  But tonight is something special. It’s almost like passing the sword or the baton. 

The portion of scripture ended and we bowed our heads and prayed.  I don’t remember the words I said.  I know I prayed for those who could not be with us.  I thanked God for His blessings and asked that He draw us near and make us grateful for The Gift that He had given us.  

As we said “amen” and I raised my head, I noticed tears in my sister’s eyes. (I missed them too Sis.) 

Julie put her camera on the tripod and begin filming the event for viewing in Christmas times to come.  But now the onslaught of the Christmas presents began.  It started out slowly.  “Let’s give out one gift at a time so we can watch everyone open theirs and see what they got”……needless to say, that didn’t work.  In just a short time gifts were piled in front of each of us and we were ripping paper and holding up our prizes.

In a few days I will forget what I got in those boxes.  We usually do.  I doubt you can remember what you got last Christmas. 

But  I want to share with you some of the gifts I got this Christmas that I won’t forget.  They are in no particular order. I’ll forget to mention some that were special but I’ll just jot  some down as they roll over in my rattled brain.

·         A day off work to go last minute Christmas shopping with my wife.  Yes, you heard that right.  I enjoyed shopping with my wife even if the day was long and Grump was getting more grumpy with every minute.

·         Making bird houses from the cane poles that grow on our land.  I know they looked like a third grader made them but it was fun and they came from our land.

·         Smelling the apple cider stuff that Keva puts together only at Christmas. At 61 years old I finally recognized what a chive is and what a combination of chives and cinnamon can do to apple juice.

·         Holding my newest grand-daughter as she wore her Santa suite at her first Fulford family Christmas dinner at Nanny’s. 

·         Sitting with Mrs Hermie and Regina on Christmas Eve morning in their lovely little home on Active Road, drinking coffee and enjoying the hospitality and company of these two fine Christian friends.

·         Listening to the chatter of the Collum family gathering at North Side Baptist Church in Calera as we shared our food and shared stories of days gone by. (I remember the old family times at Papa Dink and Mammy’s house when similar voices, the ancestor of these young people, made the same happy chatter)

·         Hunter and I wearing the same “Snoopy” shirt at Christmas

·         Hunter showing me his Christmas gifts.  Instead of toys and games now he is proud of devotion books, study Bibles and of course his Alabama gear.

·         Making eggs in a basket on Christmas morning for my wife.  (“Don’t put my eggs on the bread, it will make it soggy.  I hate soggy bread”, I can hear her now.)

·         Sharing that special time when it is just me and her, Gracie and the girls (cats) on Christmas morning.  (There was no sadness there, just peace)

·         Watching Perrin as he played with his cowboys and Indians…..then stopped and climbed up on the couch beside me and “read “ me a few lines from his book.  (If there is anything more fantastic than having your grandson sit beside you at Christmas I don’t know what it is.)

·         Hearing Renae sing “Happy Birthday Jesus” as the finale of the Heritage Homecoming Christmas program.

·         Leading a choir in which my two oldest granddaughters and my wife are members

·         Sitting in the sanctuary of Heritage and realizing that The Gift from God The Father was given to me and lives in my heart. You can’t top that one!

And although there are more, and I could sit here at the computer on the day after Christmas 2012 and make a list that you would tire of reading, I’ll end with this last one.

·         A phone call from Matt and Kimberly telling me my new grandchild, which will be here in April 2013 will be Grandson number three!

We are told in Matthew chapter two that the Magi brought costly gifts to Jesus on that special day many years ago.  I am sure they were meaningful and were well received with joy and thanksgiving. I’m sure Joseph and Mary’s hearts were full and about to burst.  I know that because I sense that same fullness this morning.  I feel that same joy and peace and I just want to say “thank you” to all of you and especially to “Our Father”.  Merry Christmas.