21 Gifts of AdventSample

The Gift of Anticipation

One Christmas as a teenager, I wanted a Smith Corona manual typewriter. I had just taken on a small part-time typing job and was forced to use my parents' old antiquated Underwood typewriter. That thing was clunky and like a dinosaur. So that Christmas I asked for a new typewriter to make my efforts more successful, but I didn’t really expect it. 

I watched closely as the brightly papered wrapped boxes appeared under our tree. I knew what size of box the typewriter should be in, and I carefully shook each larger package. Finally, the right size box mysteriously appeared overnight. I was so excited when I saw it. I grabbed the box to give it a shake and immediately knew it wasn’t a typewriter. It wasn’t heavy enough. I was disappointed when all I heard was a rattling noise coming from inside the box. I gave up on the idea of the typewriter. Saddened, I silently hoped for next year.

Christmas morning finally came and I was filled with curiosity about what could be in that box! I eagerly grabbed it from under the tree, but now something was different! It was heavier! The box was still wrapped in the same Christmas paper, so I lugged the heavy box over to my spot on the floor. My heart started to beat fast with anticipation. Could it be the typewriter I wanted? The same one I picked out in the Sears & Roebuck catalog? 

I ripped the paper off, and indeed it was the typewriter I had chosen. I laughed out loud and admitted to my parents that they had me fooled. I had convinced myself that I was not going to get it based on the weight of the gift. My mom confessed, “I knew you would figure it out, so I put a brick and three pecans in there to fool you. Then last night I put the real gift in the same box.” She was right; her trick worked. 

Advent reflection: This experience changed me to think differently about how God sent Jesus in an unexpected bundle. Don’t be dulled by the familiarity of the Christmas story. Let’s be people of anticipation who are expectant and look forward with joy, foresight, promise, and high hopes this year. Salvation is here and Hope is wrapped up in a personal gift!