I had no idea it was coming.
This speaks to how clever my mom was about surprising me because I was a notorious present-peeker. Unwrapping packages without ripping the paper became my specialty. Each year I spent hours stealthily surveying the gifts under our tree, carefully pulling back the tape to discover what was inside and filing a mental inventory of who was getting what. By the time we reread the nativity story on Christmas Eve, I usually had every box accounted for.
But not that year.
I was 10 years old, and as we opened our presents, I thought I knew the contents of each package with my name on it — a new dress, some socks and underwear, and a set of books I couldn’t wait to dive into. When we were nearly finished exchanging gifts, my mom reached behind her rocking chair and pulled out a narrow package.
She handed the package to me, smiling as I shook the box, wondering at its contents.
I took off the paper and gasped when I saw what was inside. It was a phone! Not a cellular phone — those were the size of a loaf of bread in 1992 — this was a landline phone for my bedroom, my very own extension. It was made of neon foam, like most great things were in the 90s, with an oversized yellow ear on the top and giant hot pink lips serving as the mouthpiece. I immediately imagined myself laying on my bed and having private talks with friends from school, like the girls in the books I adored.
I was completely surprised and totally delighted. It was the perfect gift, a sign that my mom knew me, knew what I would love, even before I thought to ask for it myself.
As I tell this story of Christmas, I’m struck that it is also the Story of Christmas. We think we know what’s coming but we’re handed a surprise.
“ . . . for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.” {Matthew 6:8, ESV}
We would never dream of asking for a baby born in poverty to an unwed mother, but the incarnation is exactly what we’ve always longed for. It’s the reality of God with us, loving us enough to enter in to our experience. The gift of Christ’s coming in the Christmas story is God’s way of showing that He knows us, understands us, and has been planning to delight us all along.
God’s gift to us is Himself.
He’s everything we want and yet totally surprising, the way good presents usually are.
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Related: Remember the gift of the incarnation with this beautiful art print that proclaims God’s gift of His Son to us.
Leave a Comment
Mattie Parker says
love this story!! I started over at your personal blog {you got me with that cliffhanger ;)} gotta love moms right?! I love that you were so excited about your landline – to think how far technology has come! The connection you made to the religious aspect of Christmas (which is often forgotten) was awesome! Beautiful writing!
Lindsey Smallwood says
Oh fun – thanks for telling me that, Mattie! Yes, technology has changed so much. My friends and I were laughing the other day about when we used to write papers – like actually write them, not type them on computers. 🙂
Thanks for your encouragement, Merry Christmas to you.
CouponDivaAndi says
Jesus – it’s the best gift that we can have….
Lindsey Smallwood says
Amen! 🙂
Betsy Strauss says
This is so good! I love how the gift was precious because your mom knew what you’d love even before you asked for it. Beautiful!
Lindsey Smallwood says
Yes, so precious – and truth be told – she’s still good at it!
Theresa says
I love this story! Thank you for sharing. Great reminder this season.
Lindsey Smallwood says
Thanks for saying so, Theresa. Merry Christmas to you!
Melissande Deardurff says
I love this more than I can say. First of all I remember those phones and they were awesome and secondly it’s true! I’m always amazed at God’s surprises. They’re endless and always what I need even if I didn’t think so in the first place.
Lindsey Smallwood says
Isn’t that just the best, when God surprises us in ways we never thought to pray for?! Love it! Thanks for reading Melissande.
Katie says
What a fun story, Lindsey! Everything we want – everything we need – and yet totally surprising. That is a beautiful take away as we enter into the last few days of focused celebration of His birth.
Lindsey Smallwood says
Yes! Here’s to lots of celebration this week. Yay, Jesus!
Joanna says
This is such a great story. I remember when I got my first landline too:) beautiful scripture choice!
Lindsey Smallwood says
Oh yes Joanna, I love that promise from Jesus, He knows what we need before we ask!
Chara says
Lindsey,
As always, I love your writing. Those surprises, those gifts we don’t know are coming, are so very good. They meet us in such amazing ways and are so carefully crafted by those who know us well. Never to be surpassed are these greatest gifts from the one who knows us best. Have a Merry Christmas, friend.
~Chara
Lindsey Smallwood says
You are such a sweet encouragement friend! Thanks for these words, praying now that you’ll be surprised and delighted this week!
Beth Williams says
Lindsey,
Loved this story! Parents sometimes know just what we need–just like God does!! He knows-always knows what we need before we even ask!!! We always think of gifts we got but not about the “one super” gift given for all!! It seems the true meaning of Christmas – Jesus’s birthday is all to forgotten in the commercialism of Christmas!
Have a Blessed Christmas! 🙂
Lindsey Smallwood says
Amen. May we not forget the babe at the center of it all. Blessings to you.
Tara Jones Wohlford says
I love the quote you put with the picture. Good gifts really are surprising. God never ceases to surprise me with His good gifts!
Lindsey Smallwood says
Yes, how fun that we get to be surprised by God!
Joanna Appel says
I love that you had a phone like that. It just goes to show you how ‘cool’ things evolve. But mostly I love how beautifully you draw the lines between the ordinary things and the real and beautiful relationship that God has with us. You are amazing. 🙂
Lindsey Smallwood says
No you are! You’re cute photo card came, love it. Mine are New Years cards this year as I am having too much to get them together just yet, but I’m getting there. You are a gift to me in this season. Wishing you and the boys lots of joy this week!
onlyashes says
Such a great post, Lindsey. I love the sentiments you shared. So very, very true. If we could have chosen our gifts from heaven, we would never have the wisdom to choose Christ. Merry Christmas, friend!
Lindsey Smallwood says
Yes, praise God that He picks the best! Merry Christmas to you 🙂