We are in the midst of the Spring season. But, before you know it, the Thanksgiving holiday will be right around the corner. What does Thanksgiving mean to you? For some it means making their plans for Black Friday shopping. You may be one of those people who camps out all night for a deal, strategically marks specific destination and times for door busters, or wears a football helmet and shoulder pads to navigate the mall crowds. Not me. I prefer to leave that to the “die-hard” shoppers.
When I was a child my most favorite memories during the holidays included visiting Grandma Leta’s house and pouring over the Sears Wish Book. Grandma gave my brother and me each a different colored marker and said, “Circle what you want for Christmas.” Wow! Nearly every page was marked. Of course, grandma didn’t buy ALL of the items, but she did manage to get us nearly dozen each year. Our wishes were granted!
Do you remember the Sears Wish Book? The first Sears Wish Book was printed in 1933. Over time it has diminished in size and was even discontinued at one point. It was revived in 2007, but I will never forget the hours we’d spend looking at all the new toys coming out for the Christmas season. To be honest, we knew grandma and Santa were old friends, so we mark most of the items in case he was watching! We didn’t want Santa to miss our requests.
Children today don’t really need a Wish Book. They have the Internet and their high tech toys to cruise the information highway to identify their holiday “wants.” But “back in the day” the Sears Wish Book helped us answer the seasonal question: “If you could have anything for Christmas, what would you ask for?”
You may not need the Sears Wish Book today, but you have some wishes too, don’t you? With Christmas coming up, how would you answer the question, “If you could have one thing in the world, what would it be?” Solomon had to answer that one. The Lord basically asked “What is your wish? (I Kings 3) He asked for wisdom. And God gave it to him. But by the end of his life he had accumulated more and more: more gold, more horses, more wives. He had it all and wanted more. In the midst of all these gifts he lost sight of the Giver. He turned away from God and lost it all.
Another King gave us another path to follow. He had it all and gave it all... for us. In the Christmas season, or any season for that matter, you can guard yourself from the tyranny of too much stuff by giving. Simply give so that others can simply live. That’s what the King born as a baby in the manger did. And, if I had one wish for Christmas this year, it would be that you would visit the manger and find Him. Have a great week!
You are loved.
Ray Reynolds, PhD
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