For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the LORD.

~Luke 2:11 NKJV

She greeted us at her back door with hugs and warm words of welcome. But the best Christmas gift was even more than she could give. 

I felt as if I had come home. Her ceiling-high Christmas tree blinked a welcome with its multi-colored lights and beautiful ornaments. Our small mission team had arrived in eastern Kentucky after dark, weary from more than six hours on the road.

Miss Dora Ross was a committed Christian lady, who, after her mother’s death, opened her home to mission teams who came to preach, hold Vacation Bible School, repair houses, take food to shut-ins, and provide help in any way they could to the people in her county and beyond. She never turned anyone away who came to her for any need. Instead, she provided food, clothing, and other needed items ranging from blankets to heaters.

As we sat down to a late supper of sandwiches, chips, and iced tea, we planned for the next day. We would greet around three hundred children and their parents. We planned to provide gifts for every child: toys, clothing, and hygiene items. Fruit baskets had been prepared for each family. Colorfully-wrapped gifts lay under the tree. We had brought additional gifts, and those needed wrapping.

Midnight approached as we finished wrapping the gifts. Miss Dora asked about the Santa Claus suit she thought we were bringing. I’m not sure we knew about that, so we showed up empty-handed in that category. We decided to make do with what we could manufacture.

Miss Dora found a Santa hat, and we crafted a beard and mustache by cutting out some white cardstock and gluing cotton balls to it. I had brought a red jacket, which had a fluffy white border around the bottom of the sleeves and down the front and around the bottom hem. Then, we found a pillow that would fit under the jacket’s stretchy material.

So, the next morning after an early breakfast, we prepared to greet our guests. We designated Mike as Santa. He donned the red hat, cardboard/cotton-ball facial hair, and the red coat over the pillow. Blue jeans and tennis shoes rounded out his attire.

Before we knew it, kids of all ages arrived with their parents in tow. I’ve never seen such excitement as we saw on those beautiful faces that morning. The Saturday before Christmas had arrived, and Santa Claus was there. Do you think they noticed or cared that Santa was wearing blue jeans and tennis shoes? No. As far as they were concerned, Santa could wear whatever he wanted.

As Santa gave each child their presents, he said, “Getting presents is fun, and we all love this part of Christmas. But the real reason we celebrate is because it is Jesus’ birthday.” Along with a fruit basket, we gave every adult a bookmark. “This is for you to use in your Bible,” Santa told them.

More than a few replied that they didn’t own a Bible. Santa then picked up a new Bible from the stack on the table beside him. “You have one now,” he said, handing it to them. “I encourage you to read it every day.”

For several years after that, I didn’t feel like Christmas was complete unless I served on a mission team to Kentucky. How blessed we were to minister to those who lived in Miss Dora’s community. The word of our testimony was heard by many.

And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony.

~Revelation 12:11a NASB

Those years of spending a part of my Christmas in rural Kentucky were life-changing. I was blessed to see some of them make life’s most important decision: accepting Jesus’ gift of salvation.

Jesus was born in Bethlehem, lived among us, and became one of us. He was born to die so that we can live. His death on the cross paid for our sins, but we must choose to receive His precious gift. The amazing grace of Jesus is ours for the taking.

The first Christmas after my husband and I were married, we bought his grandmother a beautiful bathrobe. She opened the package and exclaimed, “It’s too beautiful to wear every day. I’m going to put it in my chest to save for whenever I go into the hospital.”

As far as I know, she never wore the robe. Probably by the time she became a patient in the hospital, it was out of style. Or, she had forgotten all about it. Grandma had opened the gift, but she never enjoyed it because she put it aside.

Jesus didn’t give us the gift of salvation to cast aside. He loves us so much and wants a relationship with us–one where He daily speaks to us and spends time with us. He loves us with an everlasting love. Christmas is the perfect time to accept the perfect gift from a perfect Savior.

How can you better appreciate Jesus’ gift of salvation?

Lord Jesus, thank You for dying on Calvary’s cross to pay the penalty for my sins. Thank You also that You rose from the dead and are alive and seated at the right hand of Father God. Thank You that You are coming again and have prepared a place for me to live eternally with You. I choose to accept Your free gift of salvation and ask You to come into my life and be my Savior, Lord, and soon-coming King. Amen.

Genre: Non-fiction

Copyright 2020: The Best Christmas Gift: Evelyn Mason Wells: All Rights Reserved