For at least two years my favorite Christmas song was “All I Want For Christmas is My Two Front Teeth.” I remember sitting on my grandfather’s lap watching the multi-colored lights and tinsel on our Christmas tree and singing the song while waiting for my big girl two front teeth to finally grow in.

You see, at five or six years old I jumped on the bed under the watchful eyes of my older siblings and several cousins. Our parents left them in charge of the youngest (me :)) with strict instructions to NOT JUMP ON THE BED!

Well, as soon as the door closed, they ignored me and I began to have fun jumping on the bed.

Eventually, I fell off and knocked my two front baby teeth back up into my gums, which resulted in an emergency trip to a dentist and eventual oral surgery.

And a looooooooooong delay in tooth growth.

For two years, all I wanted for Christmas was my two front teeth.

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Around age ten I found a game that I couldn’t live without. It was called Mr. Marblehead or something. I can’t even remember the name now.

I remember getting under the Christmas tree to find any present with my name that might be the size of the game. One day I found a box just the right size. It had to be the marble head game.

For the next couple of weeks every chance I had I grabbed that box and shook it to hear the lovely sound of marbles rolling around.

Christmas morning I could barely stand it! I wanted to play that game.

When I finally had the package in my hands and took the paper off I sat and stared in amazement.

 

Not the good kind.

You see, what I unwrapped wasn’t the marble head game.

A popcorn popper sat on the floor instead of my greatly desired game.

And even worse?

A large broken piece lay inside the popper.

And it was all my fault.

The daily shaking had taken its toll.

All I wanted for Christmas was the marble head game.

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Many years later I wanted a child.

In the middle of several years of infertility I remember praying and asking God to bless me with pregnancy and the healthy birth of a child.

All I wanted for Christmas was a baby of my own.

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Another year, all I wanted for Christmas was my father present to celebrate with us one more time.

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There have been other years when I wanted trivial things, others when all I wanted was deliverance from barrenness or mourning or loneliness. Several involved wanting good health and healing for loved ones.

Many Christmas presents we want include things and also intangibles.

A job.

A car.

A place to live.

Toys.

Clothes.

Loved ones back in the fold of family.

Money to pay bills.

A family.

Sometimes all we want for Christmas is something taken away.

Loneliness.

Depression.

Addiction.

Pain.

Grief.

Unforgiveness.

Bitterness.

This time of year is rooted in the anticipation and celebration of the babe born in a manger – the King of kings and Lord of lords. In our humanness we can lose sight of the true meaning of Christmas.

During excruciating times of painful life seasons sometimes we can barely put one foot in front of the other, much less focus on the Reason for the season.

Wherever you are in life—on top of the world with joy-excitement or feeling like the bottom of the heap buried in worry and grief, know this…

You are loved.

You are not alone.

Reach out to someone you know and love and tell them what they mean to you.

Reach out and take a step by going to a Christmas service at a place of worship or watch online or tune in to broadcast services on Christmas Eve.

All I want this Christmas is for us to grab onto the peace, love, and joy promised that long ago, Holy night.

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11

Merry Christmas.