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Giving
A Christmas Tradition
By Jerri
Phillips
My family has a
tradition of decorating for Christmas
during the long Thanksgiving holiday.
Today we were being our traditional
selves, and I was setting up the living
room decor. One thing I love putting out
every year, and would leave out all year
if I had a place, is our nativity set. I
have to tell you about this set.
As I some of you may remember from
previous writings, I greatly enjoy garage
sales. It's a spiritual thing for me. I
like to find treasures among what others
consider junk. It's much like what Jesus
did with me. Anyway, one day, my friend
Cathy and I were doing some garage sales,
and we found a woman selling beautiful
ceramics. Most of it didn't interest me,
but I had been looking for a nice
nativity set for a long time, so when I
found Mary, Joseph, and Jesus, I was
interested. They were lying on top of a
box with lots of padding. From the
delicate detail, it was easy to see why
they were so well guarded. However, $25
was more than I was willing to pay. I had
$20, but I asked if she would take $10.
At first, she was hesitant. I could see
why. The pieces were lovely, and she
would be able to get $25 for them easily.
Instead of holding her ground, though,
she asked, "Will you really enjoy
them?"
I told her about Anna and how we told the
story of Jesus every year with the
shepherds and magi arriving and the star
and angels. This would be a lovely
centerpiece for that story. In fact, it
was so lovely that I would probably keep
it out all year if I could figure out
where to put it so Anna couldn't reach it
(She was eighteen months old at the
time). The woman smiled. "Then it is
yours for $10." The woman explained
that it belonged to her ex-husband. He'd
left two years prior and said he'd be
back to get the ceramics. His mother had
hand painted each of them. After two
years, the woman was reclaiming the
garage, and if we'd truly enjoy them, she
wanted us to have them.
I was thrilled. The kind lady helped me
wrap the three figures and place them
gently in the box. They were heavier than
I expected, and I figured that was even
better. They would last better that way.
When Cathy and I arrived home where our
hubbies and Anna were, we showed all our
marvelous treasures, and they ooed and
ahed at the appropriate times. The last
thing we showed them was the nativity
set. Cathy agreed that $10 was a good
price for the little trio. While there
were not many pieces, the three were
exquisite. With a great deal of build up,
I reached in and pulled out Joseph.
Except it wasn't Joseph. It was a magi
with gilded crown and jewels and
sparkling eyes. Cathy and I looked at
each other. I reached in again, and a
camel came out. Now understand our
surprise was not only about these
intricately painted pieces of ceramic
that we didn't know were in the box. We
were also amazed at the size of the
pieces. The camel was about ten inches
tall. The magi was nearly that tall as
well. When I reached in a third time, I
found Mary. However, I kept pulling
pieces out of the box. When I was done, I
had a nearly twenty-piece nativity set
that was absolutely exquisite. When I set
it up, it was crowded on the buffet
portion of our china cabinet. We were all
amazed. "If I had known all that was
in there, I'd have given her the $25. I
feel like a thief now," I muttered.
It was true.
The set is stunning, and I've only seen
one that compares to it. That set was
priced at over $300. That isn't what
makes my nativity set special, though.
What makes it special to me is the woman
who sold it to me. She could have easily
sold that set for $40 or $50, even at a
garage sale. Instead, she all but gave it
away to me for the simple reason she
wanted to bless me, a complete stranger,
and it does bless me.
When the woman came to Jesus and cried on
His feet and dried them with her hair,
the religious leaders were indignant, but
He said what she did would be a testimony
to her love for all time. It was an honor
to be known for such great love. I tell
the story of the woman who gave me the
nativity set for a mere $10 because it is
a testimony to her kindness. I want to
honor her for her kindness to me, and
while everyone who comments on that set
hears the story, I do more than that.
Every time I put that set out or stop and
really look at it, and most times when I
just pass by, I pray for her. I bless her
in prayer because she took the time and
sacrificed to bless me. I have no idea
what happened to her or if she is still
living on this earth, but if she is, I
pray for her to have good holidays and a
good life and to know the Jesus she so
willingly shared with me in a deep and
intimate way, deeper than she has ever
known.
I thank God for that wonderful lady. She
taught me a lot, and every time I look at
that beautiful nativity scene, I think
about her example of giving Jesus away,
not to get something, but because others
need Him. I hope I bless her by emulating
her not just at Christmas, but all year
round.
God bless you this marvelous holiday
season!
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