Faith In Fiction | The Gift Of Gifts

Shortly after bedtime, five-year old Simon is cuddling his stuffed blue elephant when he overhears the conversation that his father and older sister are having in the next room. 

“I’m knitting a scarf for mom’s birthday,'' boasts his nine-year old sister. “What do you plan to give her,” she questions Dad.

“I’ll bake her a homemade raspberry lemon cake, her favorite dessert,” his father responds.

Poor Simon feels very sad. He doesn’t know how to knit or bake. And at 5 years old, he has only a few coins in his piggy bank, not enough to buy a gift. What gift can he possibly give mom? Poor, sad Simon cries himself to sleep.

The next morning, Simon awakens to the sound of his curtains opening and his father’s cheery voice, “Wake up sleepy head; Sunday breakfast is on the table and we’re leaving for church in 20 minutes so hussle up.” Dressing quickly, then strolling into the kitchen, Simon sees the rest of the family already sitting at the table eating. “Eat quickly, munchkin,” his mother says as she gets up and hands him a plate full of her delicious banana nut pancakes topped with maple syrup and cream. As he almost drops the heavy plate, she warns him, “be careful not to break that plate.” Since she’s cautioned him to be careful so many times before, Simon rolls his eyes in response.

“This china set is precious to me, Simon,” says his mother sternly. “It belonged to my grandmother and she gifted it to me on my wedding day,” she continues with a beautiful smile.

Simon looks down and reads the words written around the edge of his plate,

“I will give thanks to God for I am fearfully and wonderfully made!” (Psalm 139:14)

Suddenly, a brilliant idea strikes. His gift to mom will be these plates that she loves so much!

As soon as he arrives home from church that afternoon, Simon rushes to his room. Since his mother only uses the china plates on Sundays, he’s sure she won’t notice them missing from the cupboard before her birthday on Friday. But where to hide them until then? Deciding that the toy train box is the right size and a perfect hiding place, he carefully removes the train pieces, then places the box in the far corner of his closet. He’ll keep the box hidden by moving all of the stuffed animals from his bed and putting them in front of the box.

With his plan in place, he waits until 7pm, knowing everyone is busy on their computers or watching television, before he wanders back into the kitchen. Grabbing the step stool, he quietly sets it in front of the cabinet, reaches up and grabs one of those treasured plates from the cupboard. He carefully and lovingly carries the plate to his closet and places it gently into the empty box. Then, as planned, he places his stuffed elephant, dog, dinosaur and giraffe around it. It will be hard sleeping without his animals but he’ll do that this week to keep mom’s gift well hidden. Over the next few days, whenever he has a chance, he sneaks into the kitchen and takes another plate. Once all four plates are safely in his closet, he decides to take the matching cups and make them part of his gift too.

After dinner on Friday, the family sings ‘Happy Birthday’ as Dad presents the specially made birthday cake. Chloe then gives mother the hand-knitted scarf. With a huge grin, Simon lifts the train box from under his chair and proudly hands it to his mother. 

His mother is smiling broadly, even though she probably thinks he’s just giving her his train. Silly mama! When she opens the box, the look on her face is priceless. She is as surprised as he hoped she would be and for a moment she says nothing. As tears come to her eyes, she finally speaks softly,

"Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift." (II Corinthians 9:15)

Taking a deep breath, she continues, “Christ’s gift of salvation is the greatest gift I have ever received. And God has blessed me with each of you and the incredible love that you have shown with each of these special gifts. Thank you Chloe for the hours and love that you put into making this scarf to keep me warm. Thank you dear for this wonderful birthday cake that is more delicious than I can even describe.” Then, hugging the box of plates close to her, she speaks again, “and to you, Simon, thank you for this gift of gifts that I love and will treasure forever. Thank you all for reminding me that,

‘Three things will last forever - faith, hope and love - and the greatest of these is love.’” (I Corinthians 13:13)