The Greatest Gift of All
Christmas Observance Speech
2017-Commandery
When I was a little boy, I remember asking my Mother why we
received presents when it was Jesus’s Birthday. Mom said that, “giving presents
was a gift of love and that God gave us the greatest gift of all. He gave us
Jesus and that by believing in him, when we die we will go to heaven to be with
him forever, and you will see your Great Grandmother again”.
I couldn’t have been but four or five years old at the time,
but those words have stayed with me as I grew up and as developed into my
manhood and even now in my maturing years, I remember them well.
My Mother was the world’s greatest gift giver. She and my Dad
would listen to my sister and I as we talked about our likes and dislikes. They
paid great attention to our activities and were always on the lookout, all year
long, for the perfect gift.
Mom kept an ongoing list of presents and at Thanksgiving
time she would sequester all the Aunts and Uncles off to another room and behind
locked doors, and in hushed voices, shared the information with them. It was
organized and looked like a planning session between Churchill and Eisenhower
when they were planning for D Day, I imagine.
When Christmas came I would gaze at all of the packages under
the tree. My parents had a formula for what was included and wrapped into those
beautifully wrapped packages. Those packages contained what I needed and the things
I most desired. Every year there was socks, underwear, handkerchiefs, a flannel
shirt, a sweater, blue jeans and a few fishing lures from my uncles and the one
perfect present that Mom and Dad spent all year planning.
It always seemed that the perfect present was given at the
perfect time in my life when I could most understand and appreciate them. There
was the Hop a Long Cassidy Gun set, the Butterfly net, and Magnifying glass,
the red bicycle, the Cub Scout uniform, the down jacket when I went to Alaska,
and the handmade quilts when I bought a home.
There was an extreme amount of planning, thought and
consideration that went into the gift giving by my parents. There was nothing
haphazard about the giving and I appreciated every gift. Sometimes my appreciation
grew with the gift like for most of the clothes that were given one size larger
so I could grow into them.
I didn’t actually figure it out until I was almost thirty
that I came from a family of what you would call today, the working poor. I
think many people in this world would be envious of my childhood and the family
that I had for we were rich in many ways. During my Dad’s entire life he always
said every few days how rich he was. So, one hot summer day, after we were
working on a project, over a beer I asked him about what he meant. He explained
that he was “rich” in Love.
I think some of us in this room tonight may have given gifts
that haven’t always been so appreciated. We may have spent a lot of time and money,
and with the very best intentions, but in the end we did not achieve the
desired results with our gift. We may have been hoping for a Wow, when all that
was received as an “OH ya sure…. Thanks”.
As the gift giver we may feel sad, frustrated, or irritated
when you find the diamond earrings tossed to the side of the bathroom sink or
the expensive cashmere sweater laying in a ball on the floor. And guys don’t
worry I won’t repeat what you said when you gave your wives lingerie for
Christmas last year.
And then there are some people who decide to push the limits
of procrastination and do their shopping on Christmas Eve. There is nothing
like a little Christmas shopping “frenzy” to get you in the Christmas Spirit,
or out of it fast.
On one of my tours in the Uniformed Division of the police
department, I had a sharp young partner named Larry who had about three years
on with the department. We were working on December 23rd and we both
had Christmas Eve off. We were walking into the Station at the end of our shift
and I said, “Larry what are you going to tomorrow”? Larry replied, “I’m going to do my Christmas
shopping and then my fiancée and I are going to my parents’ house for dinner. We will open presents and celebrate Christmas.”
I said, “Larry you haven’t done any shopping yet? Are you crazy?”
Larry said, “Tom I love the concept of ‘The One Day Hunt’. Didn’t
I shoot that eight point buck this year one hour into the Deer Opener?” I said,
“Good Luck, Larry and Merry Christmas.”
On Christmas Day morning we both had to work again. After roll
call, as we were walking out to the Squad car, I heard Larry say, “I’m so happy
this Christmas is over” as he threw his ticket book at the dash board and I
closed my door to the car. Now, when working in Law enforcement, that type of
response is usually a sign that you need to drive to a coffee shop, get a donut
or bagel, and talk with your partner. Now, Larry is a fit guy and he eats
healthy, but this called for drastic action. So, I ordered him a triple
expresso and a huge Bear Claw. Once he was about half way done with the claw
and coffee I asked, “Well Larry, what went wrong?”
Larry replied, “I got up at 11:00, ate breakfast and
reviewed the things I intended to buy everyone. Traffic was crazy, and I
couldn’t even get into Southdale, so I decided to try Ridgedale and then I
couldn’t find a place to park. So, then I drove to the Mall of America. Once I
finally got into the Mall it was packed and it was shoulder to shoulder with
people. Finally, I found one of the things on my list, and then I stood in line
forever to pay. I looked at my watch and I was overcome with anxiety. It was
two o’clock and I had to pick up my fiancée at three to be at my parents’ house
at four.”
So I asked, Larry did you get any presents at all?”’ Larry,
who was visibly upset relating his story, responded “You know, I have a good
paying job, unlike my shiftless future brother-in-law. So yes, everybody got a
present. But Tom, I was in a panic, so I
went to Walgreens and got some real nice Hallmark cards and then I went to
Super America.” I said, “Larry, I bet your family is just happy to have you
there to celebrate and any present from you is nice.” Larry replied, “TOM, I
gave my MOM A GAS CARD from Super America for Christmas! My Dad and brother got
$50.00 worth of Lottery tickets. I gave my Fiancée cash. It was mindless
shopping, I’ve never been so irritated and frustrated in my life. I just hope
that they are all talking to me by New Year’s.”
So, I later learned, that Larry’s Dad took him to lunch
after the holidays. They had one of those talks that only a loving Dad can have
with his Son. Larry’s Dad pointed out that Larry has missed what was right in
front of him the whole time. The first clue was that his Mother, for 30 years,
arranges a Manger Scene on a table by the front door every Christmas. It’s to
remind everyone that enters the home that Christ is the center of Christmas.
Larry was so consumed by the empty promise of presents and materialism that he
didn’t really see his loving and supportive family around him, who really did
not care what he gave for presents.
And in the end, the presents that Larry gave were useful and
well received. Although Larry’s Father
and Brother didn’t have a winning Lottery ticket, his Mother and Father were
planning to a trip to Arizona and could use the gas card for the trip. Larry’s Fiancée has just started a job
working in an office and used the money to buy many nice clothes to wear to
work. It really is the thought that
counts.
Besides shopping, we may have other Christmas traditions or
rituals in our families that enrich or add some excitement to our lives.
There are the outdoor lights, decorations and displays that
dazzle our homes and neighborhoods. I truly enjoy taking a walk or drive, after
dinner, so enjoy the neighborhood lights and displays. Or perhaps, there is the sending and
receiving Christmas cards, and family newsletters. I think I got one this
year…..
One things I remember best is walking into the house and
smelling freshly baked Christmas cookies. My Mother would start her baking the
morning after Thanksgiving and would finish the week before Christmas. She would bake what seemed to about 50
different varieties in every shape and color you could imagine.
My Father would eat Christmas cookies until his
birthday-which was the 4th of July and then complain when they were
gone.
Or, we have our favorite Christmas Tv shows and movies that
we love to watch each year such as; A Christmas Carol; It’s a Wonderful Life; Frosty
the Snowman; or How the Grinch stole Christmas.
And of course, who can forget the classic Charlie Brown Christmas show that
many of us and our children have watched for over the last 50 years.
Do you remember Good Old Charlie Brown? Our favorite Blockhead
who couldn’t muster up the courage to talk to the cute little Red-haired girl?
Do you remember when Charlie Brown finds that forlorn little
Christmas Tree? The image of that poor tattered tree makes me laugh and cry to
this day.
But, Charlie Brown, discovered that our family traditions or
rituals of shopping, gift giving, lights and decorations, Christmas cards, and
cookies were only symbols but not the true meaning of Christmas. Charlie Brown
asks the most profound question in that shows when in an exasperated voice he
asks, “Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about”?
Linus, Charlie Browns best friend, who is always seen with
his blue security blanket, says in a calm voice, “Sure Charlie Brown, I can
tell you what Christmas is all about”.
8 And there were in the same country shepherds
abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And,
lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round
about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the
angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great
joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you
is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And
this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped
in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13 And
suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising
God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace, good will toward men. (King James Luke 2:8-14)
“That’s what’s Christmas is
all about Charlie Brown”…Linus concludes.
That’s what’s Christmas is
all about….
God gave us the greatest
gift. There is a package from him with your name on it.
The gift was extremely
thought out and planned, and it is a gift of his true love. This gift is more
precious than any money can buy.
God’s gift doesn’t wear
out, never goes out of fashion, doesn’t need batteries, and doesn’t need an
internet connection. No assembly is required.
Our gift was not wrapped in
beautiful paper with big fancy bows looking like it was professionally wrapped
by one of those nice ladies at Nordstrom’s.
Our gift was born in a
stable. He was wrapped in rags and laid in an animals feeding trough, in very
humbling surroundings.
16 For God so loved the world that he
gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall
not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16
Jesus Christ came to earth for one
specific purpose, to make it possible for us to be forgiven of our sins and go
to heaven when we die.
Jesus said, “For the Son of man came to
seek and save the lost”.
Luke 19:10
When Jesus was nailed to the cross our
sins were nailed with him. He paid the price for us, a slow agonizing death for
our salvation.
What God asked for in return for this
great gift, is to love him….. to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart
and with all your soul and all your strength”.
Deuteronomy 6:5
Christmas is a time for us Sir Knights and
Christians to rediscover the wonders of that gift.
From Manger to the Cross………………
Merry Christmas
.
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