It seems every year as fewer people want to recognize Christmas, as schools
and towns now have Winter Holidays, that people seem to be decorating more and
earlier for Christmas every year. Go figure that one out, I can’t. But even
though it is still two weeks away from Thanksgiving, and I am already sick of
seeing Black Friday ads, where millions of self absorbed will go and buy things
early for Christmas gifts, maybe it isn’t too early to share a Christmas story.
One that warms my heart, and won’t cost you a thing. So sit back and
enjoy.
My Grandpa was a great man, to me the stereotypical grandfather. He knew
all about the trees and animals in the woods when we hiked. He could fix
anything, and had patience to do it when no else had. He also loved trains, as
the basement was filled with a track set up, and many Friday nights after dinner
were spent there until it was time for bed...and way beyond, such are the fond
memories of Grandpa. But being born in 1905, he was of a generation that was
pre car,pre world wars, and pre going to Walmart to replace things that had
broken. Grandpa fixed things, and much of his basement work shop, the old coal
cellar, was a treasure trove of works in progress, of things waiting to be
fixed. And intermixed with the parts from other things to do it. Things didn’t
get thrown out, or even recycled as they are today. They were repaired, and
reused until literally they fell apart, postponing the inevitable as long as
possible. Which brings us to today’s Christmas story. Grandpa had created
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer from a concrete deer, much like you saw in many
yards back east. Remember the black men holding the lantern that graced many
homes, those type. But he had turned the baby deer into Rudolph by attaching a
red lite bulb from some old Christmas lights, and when turned on, you had
Rudolph with his nose so bright. A holiday tradition for all who passed by
their from porch, and many kids came to believe reindeer could actually fly by
this example-it made Rudolph come alive. Which he had for many years to
us...and so when my older son Christopher was born, we told him the story, and
he wanted to see Rudolph, or Reindeer Nose as he called him. And his first
Christmas there at age 2 was to be exciting, except for one thing, Rudolph had
gotten old and fallen apart, and had to be put away. Only my Grandpa knew he
wasn’t thrown away. And it was sad when we asked Grandpa if Rudolph was fixed
and he told us no, but held back the news from Christopher. All the talk was of
Reindeer Nose, and going to Great Grandpa’s house to see him. Why burst his
bubble? But true to form, Grandpa and his workshop were at work, unbeknownst to
us. He had rebuilt Rudolph, filling in the cracks and recementing him so he
could stand again. His nose had long since vanished, but another set of tree
lights gave his nose life. It had taken months for him to repair Rudolph, all
without saying a word. And so as we went to their house that Christmas,
Reindeer Nose was still the focal point, but still hadn’t told Christopher he
wasn’t there anymore. So as we got out of the car, and he ran to see his great
grandparents, all he wanted was to see Rudolph-and to all our surprise, there
was Rudolph-red nose and all, just like he had been for years passed. As
Christopher hugged him, Grandpa beamed at his first great grandson, he had put
hours of work into Rudolph, and even though Rudy was a bit wobbly, it was
Christmas and Reindeer Nose made it complete. He later explained how this would
be Rudy’s last Christmas, he was literally falling apart, and we explained the
next year how Rudy went to visit other kids, and Christopher thought it a good
idea. But he had met Reindeer Nose, red nose and all lighting up the night, all
because a loving Grandpa was in no way going to disappoint Christopher. Oh to
be that 2 year old again, or to spend another day Christmas with Grandpa, or
another Friday night playing with the trains. And so that is my early Christmas
story for you...a better gift than any Black Friday deal, and made with the love
that Jesus would have for the season.
But as my Grandpa was a quiet man, when I got saved, we talked once about
baptism. His simple statement told me more about his life in Christ, than many
sermons could have. “Something happens when you are under the water, you come
out different than you went in.” A simple statement that sermons could be
preached on, but one sentence saying it all. And maybe that is why Rudolph was
so important to him that year, he was able to show the love for his family in a
way no big presents could, and yes, we got lots of them too. But it is the
things made from the heart we remember, and even though Rudolph is just a
children’s story, to these children that Christmas it showed the love of Jesus.
And knowing I will see Grandpa in heaven again just adds to the excitement of
going. So I will leave you with some good advice he once ended a letter to me
with, when I had first moved to New Mexico. His advice was a simple and loving
as the man himself, “be good to yourself and others.” Maybe the gospel in 5
easy words, love God and your neighbor, as he did.
Somewhere out there among the crowds waiting to get a good deal, is the
best deal ever-Jesus Christ. No Christmas without him, no reason to give gifts,
but using His example of the greatest gift, should cause us to tell others. A
gift from the heart, a promise made and fulfilled, just like my Grandpa and
Rudy. The best gift ever...a story worth telling over again and again. The
story of Jesus. And the story of a loving man fixing something that was broken
and should have been thrown away. Maybe that Rudolph represented us before
Christ, something broken and unfixable, but with a little love made whole
again. The gospel of Jesus Christ, and we were all Rudy.
“Olive the other Reindeer,” could be the rest of us, a play on words, all
of the other reindeer. They used to laugh and call Him names, but Rudolph saved
the night and that Christmas for my son. Let Jesus do the same for you. And to
all a good night...oh how the others loved Him.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com