When I was born my father’s sister, my Aunt Mildred, selected a sterling silver pattern and purchased for me a spoon in that pattern. Afterward I received a spoon or fork or knife every birthday and Christmas from her. On Christmas Eve I was allowed to open Aunt Mildred’s gift only. My brother also opened his gift from her, a different toy every year. Some years I protested and was told, “some day you’ll appreciate these silver gifts, and Burr will outgrow his gifts.” I didn’t really believe this, but among the adults in my family it was much a repeated truth.

Aunt Mildred must have been surprised when our family grew to four girls and one boy, but she kept this tradition with all the girls. She was a school teacher who married in her 40’s and had no children of her own. I vividly remember writing compulsory “thank you” notes for “the lovely spoon (or fork or knife), and never even imagining the hidden gift behind the silver. It would take many years before I learned to appreciate the sacrifices our aunt made in order to supply all her nieces with sets of sterling silverware as we grew up, and the care she took to finish each set.

Who knew when Jesus was born, the real gift that God was giving to all humankind? “All who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart.” (Luke 2:19) While there were some who had experienced a holy stirring , the hidden gift of Jesus birth and childhood was almost unknown except to his parents and cousins: “Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon?” Jesus said to them,

‘A prophet is not without honor except in his own town.’”(Mark 6:3) Though his presence has been here on earth for two millennia, Jesus is still without honor in much of the world. The value of the gift of the Christ Child remains hidden in many souls in the world.

The first time and almost every time I set the table with my silverware I remember Aunt Mildred. The first carol we hear on Christmas day we can remember the Christ Child. Christmas is a wonderful time to catch an inkling of the hidden reality of Christ’s birth. The carols , the thoughtful gifts, the reunions, all show us a love behind the holiday, a love that reminds us of Him.

Merry Christmas!

Love in Him,

Prue