I was a kid who loved the surprise that came with Christmas gifts every year. My brother.... not so much. He found birthday and Christmas gifts again and again - the toddler lawnmower, the play tool bench, all kinds of things. All this to say, we were different kids, but we both loved Christmas.
When I was about 7 or 8, my grandparents took my brother and me to a movie (Inspector Gadget, I remember it distinctly) while my parents stayed home. It was a little odd, but not unheard of. We did a lot with our grandparents growing up. But then, we got home and there was a very large...something...under a couple of blankets in our living room.
My parents said it was a Christmas gift (mind you, it was WEEKS before Christmas), and that we should let it be.
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Well, you can imagine this wasn't going to happen for my inquisitive younger brother. I don't know how long it took him, but he peeked - of course. He knew, but even at his young age, he also knew I cared about being surprised.
I waited, excitedly, until Christmas morning. In our house, I usually woke up first and jumped on beds to get everyone else out of bed to open gifts. This year was no different, but while we usually all went downstairs together, this time, I was told to wait. And wait I did, anxiously.
When I came down the stairs that morning into our living room, with the Christmas tree lit up and beautifully wrapped gifts around the Nativity set and my parents waiting to enjoy my surprise, I found a piano with three of the largest bows I've ever seen on top.
And what did my brother say when asked if he was surprised? "Not really, I looked under the blanket and saw the keyboard."
That year, I started piano lessons. I spent years learning more and more about music and added the piano to my main instrument of voice. I wasn't the perfect piano student. I didn't practice enough, but I sure did love that piano. And it's still in my parents' house. My kids have discovered it now and love to play (and I mean play in the toddler way).
In fact, I took the opportunity this year to get a piano in my own home so that my kids and I have an instrument for practice and for fun. It makes me a stronger choir member for church and my youngest - only 19 months - is getting the opportunity to start really making music happen.
But oddly enough, knowing ahead of time didn't make the result much different for my brother. He has a stunning piano in his home (a baby grand), has played in multiple bands, and now dances semi-professionally.
So, whether you're one who relishes in the waiting or needs to be in on the surprise, a gift can change or inspire your life. I don't know which one you are this year as we wait for Christmas, but I hope that you find joy in whatever experience - the pure excitement of surprise in what God is doing for you and your life or the beautiful experience of showing someone else the wonderful surprise of a baby born in Bethlehem means for them.
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