We had traveled by train to Grandma’s house to celebrate the
season. Just 3 years old, he had fun
climbing up into the attic, finding the Christmas tree and decorations. He helped his Daddy put up the tree, and he
laughed and smiled as we helped decorate it.
Later that evening, we all piled into Grandpa’s big car, and
went to church for a candle light Christmas Eve service. He stood on the pew as we all stood and sang,
bowing his head and clasping his hands tightly as we all prayed together in
thanksgiving for all we have been blessed with.
He sat with reverence, as the communion plates were passed, and when the
usher asked him if he knew what the communion items were for, he replied in a
hushed voice, “don’t you know? It’s Jesus’ body and blood, ‘cause he loves us
and wants us to love him”. At the end of the service, he held his own little
candle still and smiling, as we all sang Silent Night. The service ended and cookies and punch were
enjoyed in the big room just off of the Church kitchen.
Several people came by, shook his hand, admired his auburn
hair, and asked him if he had been a good boy this year. He nodded his head, with his cookie in his
hand, and would often ask if they had been good too.
Back at Grandma’s, everyone sat down in the dining room
chairs that he had placed in a row, and he told the Christmas story using a
huge coloring page that he had taped to the wall.
Just before bed, in the middle of giving hugs to everyone,
Grandma asked him what he wanted Santa to bring him . . . he cocked his head to
the side, and with a very thoughtful look he said . . . “I would like a Rudolph
puppet with a light up nose.” There was
nothing else that he wanted. This made
his Momma and Daddy, Grandma and Grandpa all look at each other with puzzled
looks. There had been no commercials for
such a thing, it wasn’t the latest toy, or biggest thing on the market. He had never been one to ask for anything for
Christmas or his birthday for that matter, so to come up with something so
specific, was rare, and no one wanted him to be disappointed.
Grandma and Grandpa lived in a very small town in
Wisconsin. The type of town with the
main street decorated with lanterns and wreaths. At one end was a park with a little Red School
House, and the other . . . a gazebo with lights and bows of greenery adorning
it. All of the shops were closed by 5pm,
and other than one gas station, right by the interstate, nothing was 24
hours. What could be done?
His Momma pulled out her bag, and began to look through
it. She had brought white tube socks,
with green tops that she and B had made stockings for everyone out of. One sock was left. She also found a battery operated candle she
had brought for B to use in the church service, which he hadn’t. Holding the two items, she looked up, and saw
that everyone else was smiling. They
knew the gauntlet of challenge had been cast down, and that she was not going
to do anything less, but come up with a Rudolph puppet with a light up
nose. Daddy found some old batting in a
cupboard, grandma brought her some scissors.
Grandpa found the sewing kit, while Momma found two green pipe cleaners
and a marker in her bag. She sat to work,
cutting a little hole in the toe of the sock, and placed the top of the battery
candle through it. She glued some eyes
on, and after bending them into the shape of antlers, she sewed the two green
pipe cleaners onto the top of the reindeer head. The batting was placed in the toe of the sock
all around the candle that was the handle inside the puppet. Only one thing was missing, till Grandma
found some red fingernail polish . . . A few strokes of it on the top of the
battery operated candle “nose”, made the transformation complete. Then the big test . . . she twisted the
handle and the newly painted red nose, lit up, and with that, a Rudolph puppet
with a red nose had been made. It was a
funny looking, homemade attempt, but was the best that could be done with such
short notice, with only items at hand.
The reindeer was placed in the top of his stocking, and everyone else
finally went to bed.
Christmas morning was a happy time, with B giving out big
Christmas Hugs and Kisses to everyone.
Then, the moment came to open our stockings . . . B’s eyes lit up
brightly as he found the homemade puppet.
He laughed and giggled, and when he twisted the candle’s bottom and
Rudolph’s nose lit up, his smile was indescribable. It was exactly what he had asked for. Someone asked him if he was surprised. His answer made everyone pause, “Nope. It’s Jesus’ birthday, and God always knows
what gifts to give.”
Over the years, many gifts have been given, received, then
passed on to others, but the Rudolph puppet with a light up nose, is packed
away in a keepsake box. It is a reminder
that when loved ones come together, in the spirit of giving, even the most
challenging requests and needs can be met.
As you give of yourself with the heart of Christmas, know that God will
bless those gifts, and the hearts of those who receive.
Merry Christmas
