If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! – Matthew 7:11 (NIV)
A Christmas Story is a nostalgic comedy set in the 1940s that centers on a young boy named Ralphie Parker. The story unfolds over the Christmas season and focuses on Ralphie’s quest to get a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas. Despite being warned by adults that he might “shoot his eye out,” Ralphie persists in trying to convince his parents it’s the perfect gift.
Like most kids, I loved Christmas because I knew my parents worked hard to give me some of the toys I begged them for that year. On Christmas morning, there was always one big item that I wanted—a Lite-Brite, a Barbie Dreamhouse, or a Big Wheel. One Christmas, I was obsessed with the most-coveted toy of the year: a Cabbage Patch doll. I could relate to Ralphie’s obsession with getting his Red Ryder BB gun because I, too, was utterly obsessed with getting my very own Cabbage Patch doll.
OVERWHELMING DEMAND
For those not familiar, the Cabbage Patch doll was a soft-sculpted doll that came with a somewhat unique combination of hair and eye color, as well as a birth certificate and adoption papers. In 1983, retailers struggled to keep up with the overwhelming demand, leading to a scarcity. Parents across the nation pushed and shoved their way through crowded department store aisles in a desperate attempt to secure one of these elusive dolls. My parents told me that, despite their efforts, it was doubtful that I would be getting a Cabbage Patch that year. As a little girl, the thought of not getting one seemed to deflate all the joy out of Christmas, and I felt like all hope was lost for attaining the gift I wanted most.
Each lame gift Ralphie opened added to his disappointment of not getting the BB gun. Then his dad pointed out one last present. Ralphie’s emotions go from hopelessness to disbelief as he receives the gift he was longing for, all while his father delights in his son’s joy. My parents also saved one last gift to be opened that Christmas morning. By the time I even noticed it, I had tears of disappointment welling up, thinking I wasn’t getting a Cabbage Patch doll. Once I realized the last gift was for me, I quickly opened it to see a red-headed, green-eyed doll, complete with an official adoption certificate to prove that she was mine!
EVEN GREATER GIFTS
Matthew 7:11 states, “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”
The verse emphasizes that even imperfect humans, despite their flaws, can give good things to their children. It suggests that God, being perfect and loving, will provide even greater gifts to those who seek them from him. You may not be asking for a BB gun or a Cabbage Patch doll, but no matter what it is you are longing for, God wants to give you good things. You just need to ask!
Reflect: How does the concept of God as a loving Father, who gives good gifts to those who ask, shape your understanding of prayer and your relationship with him?
