CINDY TRANE CHRISTESON -- The Moral of the Story

“It is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at

Christmas, when its mighty founder was a child himself.”

-- Charles Dickens

Two weeks ago, I came down the stairs at church and heard a sweet

little voice behind me. A quick glance back showed me a cute little girl,

probably about 5 years old. Her parents must have just picked her up from

Sunday school, and she was eager to show them her craft and tell them

about her morning.

“Mommy, did you know that God loves you?” she asked.

“Yes, honey, I did, and isn’t that wonderful?” the mother said.

“Daddy, did you know that God loves you?” she asked a bit louder.

“Yes, I did, and God loves you too sweetheart,” he replied.

“But Daddy, I mean God really, really, really loves us,” the little

girl said with even more determination. “That’s why He had baby Jesus be

born on Christmas. I know because we talked about that today, and look

what I made. It’s a picture of the presents I want to give Jesus. I think

Jesus must be really old by now.”

When I got to the bottom of the stairs, I took a few steps and

stopped. I turned just enough so I could watch the happy trio.

The little girl’s father held the picture, and she held both parents’

hands. She occasionally jumped up just enough so her parents had to carry

her a step or two.

She was dressed in all her Christmas finery and was as decorated as a

Christmas tree. She wore a red velvet dress with bows and matching

headband also with bows, white lacy socks and black patent leather shoes.

I couldn’t see what the picture was, but I could see that it was

lovingly and lavishly covered in glitter and glue. So were her shoes.

I stood there remembering when our daughters were that age, dressed

like that and eager to show their glittery creations. I remembered

talking to them about celebrating Jesus’ birthday.

“Imagine if it was your birthday, and I took you out to lunch but

ignored you the whole time. What if I kept talking to people at tables

around us, but never to you? How would you feel?” I asked our daughter

Amy when she was about 5 years old.

She laughed and said, “That would be silly, Mommy. That’s not what

birthdays are all about. Birthdays are all about the birthday person.”

I must have just been standing there staring into space but was

quickly brought back to reality when a cute little boy ran past me

holding two doughnuts and yelling something to his sister.

I looked up just as the trio disappeared behind a multitude of others

mingling, drinking coffee and visiting with one another.

It’s been years since my daughters have given me gifts covered in glue

and glitter. But the gift of God’s son to all of us is one that it truly

timeless.

Let’s not ignore the one whose birthday we will soon be celebrating.

Birthdays are a time to honor and focus on the one whose birthday it is.

After all, that’s what it’s all about.

And you can quote me on that.

* CINDY TRANE CHRISTESON is a Newport Beach resident who speaks

frequently to parenting groups. She may be reached via e-mail at o7

cindy@onthegrow.comf7 or through the mail at P.O. Box 6140-No. 505,

Newport Beach, CA 92658.