Crock-Pot Christmas
Ever have one of those Christmases when you couldn’t get in
the holiday mood? I’m positive I’m not the only one who has had that
experience. All the glitter and hype can’t quite shake the reality that this
Christmas is not going to be one to remember.
Three months earlier, our family moved from Montana back to
Minnesota. I was promised a pastoral position in a church in the Twin Cities.
Even though it was an opportunity to be back with relatives and old friends, it
meant uprooting our family. It was hard to say goodbye to nine years of
relationships. Two large U Hauls and a thousand miles later we were in the big
city.
Moving in with Judy’s parents and putting our worldly
possessions in storage, we settled in for a season. Then I learned that there
was no job available at the church. Now living with the relatives, no income
and Christmas was around the corner. I was so full of disappointment and fear that
there was no way I was going to enjoy this Christmas.
One evening I took the kids to Target. I needed their help
in picking out a present for Judy. As we walked up and down the aisles nothing
looked good. Then my eyes fell upon this crock-pot. It was beautiful. I knew
this was the gift for her. The kids said, “You have to be crazy Dad to give Mom
a crock-pot for Christmas. She won’t like it.” My mind was made up.
Christmas arrived. I knew Judy would love her present. As
she unwrapped it I could sense the kids apprehension. When she saw what it was,
she looked at me and began to cry. Not tears of appreciation but of frustration
and sorrow. I was shocked that she didn’t like that beautiful gift. A lesson
learned: never and I mean never give your wife a Christmas gift with a cord
attached to it.
God does not give gifts with cords attached. “Every good and
perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights, who
does not change like shifting shadows.”
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