A Christmas Story
The holiday season has ended, offices are opening, and the world is going back to normal. But we just received a Christmas package from my mom. And while I write this, I’m looking at six 12-year old boys (on one couch - with an empty one right next to them) chattering about Christmas gifts and watching Spiderman. We’re clinging on to Christmas morning and special family moments as long as we can over here! So, as you go back to work and un-holiday your house, I’m going to share a Christmas story.
Chris and I both grew up with super-parents who created magical childhood memories that left us racing to our Christmas trees bright and early every December 25th. The best morning of the year! Those memories still bridge the oceans between us now, and we want to pass that legacy down to our kids.
We’ve only had three Christmas mornings with Lifa, and he still talks about them as historical landmarks in his life. “The first Christmas was amazing because....” “And then on the second Christmas...”
Chris and I laid in bed one night before Christmas dreaming of what Christmas morning could be this year. Our families had given generously to us so that, even if we couldn’t be with them, we could have Christmas. That night, Chris told me he was willing to give up every one of his Christmas gifts (except he really wanted a new water bottle) if we could get something extravagant for Lifa. We live on a very tight budget and don’t buy anything for ourselves throughout the year. Until Christmas Day, Lifa was busting out of last year’s Christmas clothes. Christmas is our one big hoorah for the year, and Chris wanted a great HOORAH for his oldest son. (We all know Benjamin just wanted the wrapping paper for his first Christmas.) Chris wanted to get Lifa an iPad. (A MUCH larger investment South Africa than America.) He had great reasons - everything from the parental control features to using it for high school, but we decided to come back to the conversation because I just didn’t feel peace yet. I’m a slow processor and this was a big decision in trust, finances and how we communicate value to Lifa.
I prayed and prayed the next morning. I didn’t want to cancel Chris’ Christmas for Lifa to get an iPad because I didn’t think that communicated the values of our family well. And I had already bought Chris a supercool pocket knife because his entire collection was stolen. After lots of thought, I wanted that iPad for Lifa as well. But only if we had the resources for it, and everybody could still have Christmas gifts. Lo and behold, as peace and hope for it settled in my heart, an email landed in my inbox. Not only had our families generously given us more than we could have imagined, but a small school in Alvin, TX sent an incredible gift.
Living Stones Christian School is an undeserved gift from God to the Ladd Family. Selfless kids and teachers give “Quarters for Lifa” each term to help us pay for his school fees. This year, on the very morning I prayed for a way to get Lifa an iPad for school, the students from Living Stones sent enough money to pay for 1/3 of it! AND the 5th grade class sent a $50 iTunes gift card. You’ve never seen a more excited dad than Chris Ladd.
We had a beautiful, magical Christmas morning. Chris got a pocket knife, new shoes, and the perfect water bottle. I got new placemats, a beautiful backpack and a fancy coffeemaker. Benjamin got bath toys and a wooden trolley with blocks.
Lifa got some clothes that fit, a new Bible, and a really long speech from me (that almost completely undid my husband) about the generosity and sacrifice of KIDS on the OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD who had NEVER EVEN MET HIM to be able to give him... (Chris is dying at this point...) THIS! He opened his iPad and all the boys in the house combusted with joy.
Lifa couldn’t believe it! He had never dared dream of such a gift. Oh, what a day of technology the guys had. Benjamin and I went on a run and drank fancy coffee during it all.
During our steak, mushroom and roasted peaches Christmas dinner, we did what we always do: We played highs and lows. Christmas morning = everyone’s high. Duh. But, for all of us, it was the exhilaration of giving generously to each other. It’s the only time of the year we see each other receive something just for the sake of receiving. We enjoyed each other enjoying their gifts even more than our own. That’s why I didn’t want Chris to give up his Christmas.
When it was time for Lifa’s low, he said, “I feel kind of bad about my iPad. There are so many people who I’ve never even met. And maybe I’ll never meet them. And they gave up what they have just so I could have this really nice gift. I don’t even deserve it, and it didn’t cost me anything.”
That is Christmas, Lifa. You got Christmas this year.
That iPad could have been a manger. It was a vessel for the greatest revelation. Because of a small group of kids in Alvin, Texas, a boy in South Africa has a device that will continuously remind him of the greatest lesson he’ll ever learn. Jesus came as a gift we never deserved. He gave everything up for himself, so that we could receive the greatest free gift of them all.
Parents, teachers and students of Living Stones Christian School, thank you. You’ve got a good thing going over there as you love past who you know and what you can see. You give without receiving, and you are teaching my kid Jesus. Bless you over and over and over again.