Date - Dec/92

Contributor - Wendy Orr

Title - The Present of a Children's Christmas Story

Topic - Christmas

When I awoke Christmas morning I just knew that Santa Claus had left mounds of colourful presents. I yelled for Mom and Dad to hurry up as I scampered down the stairs to the living room. My excitement grew as my Mom urged me to start opening the many small and large parcels. As my parents smiled, I opened up boxes which contained a television, books, records, a stuffed dog and many other wonderful toys. There was, however, one present I tossed behind the gift pile because it was something that I never even considered to be nice. It was a pencil set for school and in my mind something for school was not a present but a necessity.

After all the presents were opened and we had eaten our breakfast, the phone rang. It was my friend Sarah. As I told her about the gifts I had been given, I could hear Christmas music playing in the background. Sarah told me that for her Christmas present she had received a poem. Sarah's parents didn't have much money to buy lots of presents as mine did.

After getting washed and looking over my presents, I began to feel a little bored. My Mom suggested that I call Sarah and go out and play. When I called her she invited me to her home for lunch. I pulled on my new hat and gloves and ran out the door. When I got to Sarah's, all I could hear was laughter coming from inside.

As she answered the door, I saw her parents singing and having a good time. That afternoon I learned about the real Christmas story. After we had eaten, her mother decided it was time for their annual Christmas story. Sarah began the story, her brother continued, and then all the family took turns to complete it. It was wonderful to hear the story about Jesus and the shepherds. But I remember feeling left out because I didn't know the story.

After story time, Sarah wanted to come to my house and play with my toys. When she saw the pencil set I did not want, she became very happy. I decided she could have it as a Christmas present. She was so excited that she ran home to tell her family. when she returned she had a present for me; it was a Bible with neat pictures in it. Somehow it became the best present of all!

When you open up your gifts this year, think about the baby Jesus and the wonderful gift he gave us. Sarah was unselfish while I was selfish. She knew the real meaning of Christmas, do you?