THE GIFT THAT RETURNED

Thank be unto God for His
unspeakable Gift.
II Corinthians 9:15

It was the summer before Christmas. I was 8 years old and had already started nagging my parents about wanting a bicycle. I didn't care if I got one for Labor Day, Veteran's Day or Christmas day. The kids in my neighborhood all had bikes. If I ever rode one, one of those kids had to let me ride up and own our block a couple of times on their own bike. I was good on a bike, knew how to balance well and work the brakes. I had taken to bike riding the minute I got on one mostly because I had spent so much time on a scooter.

Mother assured me that they just didn't have the money for a bike. Within a few days somewhere in the month of July, she took me to a lady's house, a friend who had lived near my Dad's mother. The lady had a bike Mother wanted me to try for size. It was a little big but I was taller for my age and had long enough legs to make it work. Mother assured me that even though there was no money for a bike, that gave her an idea as to the size I would need.

Christmas day came, and there by our Charlie Brown Christmas tree was parked a beautiful bright red bicycle. As nature would have it, it was a day with snow up to my knees so the ride on the first bike would have to wait. It did give me a lot of time, however, to really give my new bike a good looking over. The paint was fresh....I could tell from the smell of it. I also noticed a couple of little nicks on the handle bars. Looking at the back bottom of the frame was a dig in the metal where the pedal would strike and make a click sound. It was THAT bike I had tried in July. I learned later that my dad had a friend in a body shop paint the bike. It was gorgeous. I don't know of anything in my young life I enjoyed any more than that bike. Even through junior high and high school, I rode that bike all over town, out to the city lake and wherever else I could find to ride. My red bike days, however, came to an end when I went to college, never to return to the family home to live again.

One job I had out of college was for a year at a nearby children's home as a cottage supervisor of girls of varied ages. We tried to do many of the things any family would do. I noticed two or three racks of bicycles near the main building and decided one fall day for me and the girls to venture to a nearby park for a bike ride. I got everyone fixed on a bike their size and then just grabbed one for myself. I led the group and an assistant brought up the back of our group.

As we were riding along, I was suddenly aware of a “click....click....click” sound as I pedaled along. Glancing down, there it was...the small groove in the frame from years of the pedal hitting the frame. I then looked at the handle bars and sure enough, the old familiar nicks were there. I finally noticed the well worn, rusted in places fenders with very little red paint on them. I was, 15 or 16 years later, riding again my precious bike. It was the worse for wear but it still in it's own loving way with every click that we (my bike and I) were again cruising along as if no one else were in the world in those moments. I learned later that my Mother had given the bike to the children's home, but just hadn't thought to tell me anything about it.

We have a lot of Christmas memories in the years we have lived. Gifts have come and gone but many folks have hung onto a few precious things. We may never know, however, where some of those things have gone. Perhaps some things fell into hands that appreciated used things. We'll never know where those things have gone or if they still exist. Memories of those Christmas's have come and gone with fond thoughts. Every now and then, though, some little something might pop up whether found in an attic, trunk or box in a garage or perhaps on a distant bike rack

However, we, today are remembering a Gift that never gets lost. We have accepted Jesus as our own personal Savior He isn't something that gets lost with the years. He never becomes just a memory although we have fond memories of Him. He doesn't disappear for 16 years and then shows up again. He is a Gift once received, that takes up residence through His Holy Spirit in us. As much as we may at times shove our precious gift into the background of our lives, He waits patiently for us to come to our senses. He's not a memorable scratch on handlebars or a click in metal but has His ways of stirring in us the most precious of memories of sweet times with Him we can never ignore or forget.

We may get a little upset with folks who refuse to say, “Merry Christmas” during this season but what are we really doing to acknowledge not just a baby coming from Heaven. We revere everything He has been and continues to be in our lives. He is our King of Kings and Lords and He is and will reign forever and forever. Jesus is our Gift, now and into eternity.

Father, we can't thank You enough for the precious Gift of Jesus You sent to us so long ago. You had promised this precious gift and You always fulfill Your promises. Thank You Jesus for being in our lives every day and not just one day in the year. In Your precious name..Amen