Bare feet on wooden stairs. Red nylon nightgowns that matched. Two sisters clattered down the stairs on a cool Christmas morning, running into a room that had seemed bare when they went to bed, but now resembled Santa’s workshop in all its glory. There were stockings, my favorite, and babydolls from Santa. Presents were wrapped under the tree, their endless possibilities almost dancing in the air before us. We felt like very lucky girls, indeed.

Against each wall stood a handcrafted desk with an attached shelf. We had run past them to get to the Christmas tree. They were beautifully made, polished to a high shine, gleaming in the reflection of the Christmas lights.

Neither girl mentioned the desks. Instead, they ran straight to the stockings. Inside were staples, erasers, paper clips, and all the things one would need to stock a desk. Still, no one mentioned the desks in the room.

One sister had asked for a desk of her own and had wanted it so much. She didn’t see the desk before her because of the lights and sounds of the season that competed with the presence of the desk.

The other sister saw the desks, but thought they were much too grand and special for the likes of her. Surely, they were for her parents. It didn’t seem like she was worthy of such a gift. It must be there for someone else.

Eventually, their mom told them of the gifts that were right in front of them. Of how their dad had made them for his two girls. How they were thought of especially as he made them.

The gift of the father seemed enormous. Shyly the girls eyed the desks then ran to them. They began stocking the drawers with paper clips and staplers and felt very grown up, and excited, and loved.

This Christmas, you might be like these two sisters. Like the second sister you may see a baby in a manger and think he is far too grand a gift for the likes of you. You might think you don’t deserve a gift so special, but your father in Heaven thought about you when he sent Jesus to be born as a baby.

Or, you may be like the first sister and simply not see the manger in light of all the hustle and bustle, and excitement of the season.

Don’t miss the splendor of the season by not noticing the gift in front of you. Jesus was born humbly in a stable, he lived a perfect life, and he died a violent death on a cross so that all who ask him to be Lord of their lives might be saved. Don’t think the gift is too grand or too special for you to accept. Just see the gift of Jesus and take it.