Christmas Boxes

Christmas Boxes -Tyson B. Troxel Christmas 2010 Christmas boxes, all shapes and sizes. Wrapped in reds and greens and stripes and zig zags. Pretty bows, big, small, curly, shiny and all that jazz. Ribbons of every possible contortion. And yet, it is all shredded and thrown to one side in less than 5 seconds, put in a garbage bag and taken to the trash. What we are left with are boxes. Christmas boxes. All sizes and shapes, yet boxes all the same. Pretty soon even the boxes are thrown out with the trash. What do we have for little Billy? A bow and arrow, a new cap gun, his favorite DVD or video game. What do we have for little Suzie? A dollie, a dress, maybe a baking set, or a new book to read. How about Bobbi the 15 year old? Clothes, movie tickets, concert tickets or a CD from his favorite band. Julie the bubbly 16 year old? A new cell phone, a new computer or dare we say her own car? And let’s not forget 21 year old Jeff. A pack of smokes, a bottle of Jack or some lotto tickets. Maybe a new army jacket. What shall we get mommy? Her favorite perfume. A dozen roses. A straight A report card. How bout’ just an “I Love You” Daddy?? Cigarettes, aftershave and his favorite DVD movie. Grandma??? “I Love you my beautiful, sweet, loving grandma. You get younger and more beautiful every day.” A hug. A kiss. A cup of coffee. And they all come gift wrapped in boxes, wrapped ever so prettily. Boxes that once emptied, are thrown to the side and taken out with the trash. Let me just for a second offer you 3 boxes. Box A: A big box, wrapped in expensive, shiny wrapping paper, with a big pretty bow and ribbon, ribbon and more ribbon. Ever so pretty. It smells of an expensive department store. Box B: Standard size. Obviously wrapped by little Timmy. There’s even a jam thumbprint on one corner. And the tape. Oh the tape. WAYYYY too much tape. Box C: Just a box. Small enough to fit in your hand. It barely weighs an ounce. Not even wrapped. Not pretty at all. Ok. Now this isn’t a choose your own adventure story, so I’ll give you a minute to choose your Christmas present from me. “Lalalalal…Hum Humm Hummm…Tis the season to be jolly. Silent Night….Holy Night….” Ok. Have you decided? Box A: For The Men: The new CD by your favorite artist/band. For the Ladies: A new cookbook Box B: Men: A new tie Ladies: A new blouse. Box C: Let’s forget about the boxes. I want to tell you a different story. Besides, you’re just gonna throw the boxes out with the trash anyways, There once was a man who was SOOO great and powerfull that he came to this world on Christmas, as a little baby. There was no room for him, so his mommy wrapped him in hay, in a feeding trough and laid him there for all the world to see. He was such an important person, yet there he lay in the hay. And he looked at everyone that came, and smiled. He knew no worry, stress, sadness, or any worldly woes. He just lay there in the hay and smiled. If he could talk, he’d say…. “I Love You.” As a young man, about 31, he had tons and tons of friends. He had 12 best friends. He was a Rockstar and everywhere he went, crowds of people followed. He was the man of the hour. Yet..he didn’t own his own home, didn’t own a camel and had no money. He had no need. He walked mile after mile, and always smiled. He would always tell you how much he loved you. Just 2 short years later, one of his best friends betrayed him and handed him over to the enemy. Some friend!! He was led away, laughed at, scorned, spit on and hit time and time again. Where were his best friends in his time of need?? They all ran for the hills. Some best friends!! And what about the crowds of people that followed him everywhere? They sold him out. So, with not a friend in the world, he was led into a courtyard, stripped of his clothes and beaten over and over. Whipped repeatidly, kicked, spit on, called possibly every filthy name one can imagine and then seconds from death, so bloody and unrecognizable that even his own mom didn’t recognize him, he was abandoned. No friends, no fans, nobody. Then…. As if this wasn’t bad enough, he was FORCED to carry a HEAVY cross up a hill, while people laughed at him, scorned him, kicked him and even spat on him. Imagine…he was once the man of the hour, the man EVERYONE loved. And, where were his best friends?? Finally…hanging on the cross, between 2 thieves, just seconds from death, he smiled the biggest smile you can imagine and said…. “I LOVE YOU.” And he died. And he was taken out with the trash. So to speak. Now, back to the final box. I know you didn’t pick box C. Why would you? It’s just a small, ugly, insignifigant box. It’s not even wrapped pretty, and doesn’t even have a bow. It’s so light it’s probably empty. You’d have to be a fool to pick this box. I mean, seriously, why would you pick this box? It’s just a little box, that has no value. Ok…ok…supposing you are one of the ones that actually picked this little, ordinary box, (I mean, seriously, why would you) let’s open it together. (Seriously…Come on…) You lift the lid off of this little box, that can easily fit in your hand and pull out a slip of paper. And this is what it says: “(insert your name) I LOVE YOU!” –Jesus Merry Christmas!