The Missing Turkey
THE MISSING TURKEY
Read John 1:1-4, 9, 14; Luke 2:15-17.
Jamie’s aunt and uncle, who weren’t Christians, were coming for Christmas dinner. Jamie and her parents had prayed that somehow, this Christmas, God would help them witness to Aunt Ellen and Uncle Joe. When they arrived, Uncle Joe held out presents. “Merry Christmas, Jamie! See what Santa Claus brought!”
“We almost didn’t come,” said Aunt Ellen. “Joe stayed late at the office party last night and came home even more drunk than usual.” She winked at her husband, but Jamie felt sad. Was this what Christmas meant to her aunt and uncle?
At dinnertime the table was loaded with delicious food. After Dad gave thanks, Jamie took helpings of several different things. Now all she needed was a drumstick. She looked around the table. “Where’s the turkey?” she asked.
Startled, Mom stared at the table. “The turkey!” she cried. She ran to the kitchen and returned shortly with a large platter of meat. “The main part of the meal, and I forgot all about it!”
Jamie giggled. “I guess we had so much other good stuff that we just didn’t miss it at first,” she said.
After dinner Uncle Joe stretched. “Now that was a good meal,” he declared. “I’m glad someone remembered the turkey! It wouldn’t have been the same without it.”
Dad nodded. “This dinner without the turkey would have been like Christmas without Christ,” he said. “Many people think they can enjoy Christmas without knowing Christ Himself. It’s true that they may have some good times, but they’re missing the best part.”
Uncle Joe and Aunt Ellen looked at each other, then settled back to listen as Dad began to read the Christmas story from the Bible.
HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you missing the meat of Christmas? Have you gotten so involved in the fun things to do that you’ve forgotten all about Jesus?
TO MEMORIZE:
[Christ] existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.
Colossians 1:17
DON’T FORGET CHRIST.
From the book
