The Greatest of Gifts

The Greatest of Gifts

Mooster: Merry Christmas, everyone! What? Christmas is over? Well, that may be – but it’s still the Christmas season, so I keep saying it. We can still say Merry Christmas – it’s like saying, “Happy celebration of Jesus’ birth!”

(Moe starts sneezing behind the curtain.)

Mooster: Hey Moe! Is that you sneezing? Come on out here!

Moe: Hi Mooster! Hi kids! Ah-chooooo! Yep, I’m sneezing. My little sister got a kitten for Christmas and I think I’m allergic to it. I’ve been sneezing since she got it. Ah-choo! Swell gift, huh? You don’t want a cat do you?

Mooster: Oh that’s too bad, Moe. I’m sorry you are allergic to it. Perhaps your parents can just section off one room for the cat to be in, like your sister’s room. Maybe that would help.

Moe: Yeah, whatever. She got what she wanted for Christmas and apparently that’s all that mattered.

Mooster: Huh? What are you talking about, Moe? Your folks got you gifts too, didn’t they?

Moe: Uh-huh. I got some new socks. A new backpack for school. Oh yeah, and some new long underwear since it’s so cold outside. My sister got a kitten. It’s all she’s ever wanted! Did they get me the pet I wanted? Oh no! Ah ah ah-choooooo!

Mooster: Bless you.

Moe: Thanks. The point is, I’ve always wanted one of those awesome colorful blue frogs from South America. They’re only $49.99 from the online pet stores. That’s not so much. I could have done without the socks.

Mooster: Moe, are you KIDDING me? Aren’t those blue frogs poisonous?

Moe: What’s your point?

Mooster: Moe, really? Do you think your parents would want you to have a poisonous animal in the house?

Moe: Well, it’s only poisonous if you touch it….

Mooster: And you think you could take care of it without ever losing it or having it escape or touching it or having one of your little sisters try and touch it?

Moe: Ummmm….. mayyyybe….

Mooster: Uh huh. Let’s look at this from your parent’s point of view. Their job is to protect their children. What is a safer pet? The poison dart frog or the kitten?

Moe: Okay, okay, fine. Ahhhhhh-choooooooo! I get it, I get it. The kitten is safer. But I didn’t get anything I wanted!

Mooster: Really? I thought your folks got what you had on the list you wrote down? Didn’t you ask for a new tablet?

Moe: Yeah. They got one for me.

Mooster: Didn’t you ask for a new remote control banana mobile?

Moe: Yeah. They got one for me.

Mooster: Didn’t you ask for that new mystery book series, “The Great Monkey Detectives of History?”

Moe: Yeah. They got all those for me. There’s 52 books in the set.

Mooster: And didn’t you ask for a new backpack?

Moe: Yeah, yeah, yeah I did. But I didn’t get the frog!

Mooster: Moe, you got more stuff than probably any other monkey in Greenville County. I can’t believe you are focusing on the dumb frog. Your focus is all wrong. You shouldn’t be wasting your time thinking about what you did NOT get. You should be SOoooo thankful for all the things you DID get! You know if your dad hadn’t gotten that great promotion, you would not have had much more than socks for Christmas.

Moe: That’s true. Dad is making a lot more money now. My parents bought a lot of things for all us kids this year because we had to go without a lot of gifts for birthdays and stuff this year. We didn’t have much money at all through most of the year. We ate lots of beans and bananas this year.

Mooster: God blessed your dad with a better job. Have you told the Lord “Thank You” yet for that?

Moe: Um…no I guess I haven’t.

Mooster: You should. Many dads have no job right now. Their kids got almost nothing for Christmas. Did you thank the Lord that all your family was able to be together for Christmas?

Moe: Ahhhh-Chooo! No……

Mooster: You should. Think about all the soldiers who missed Christmas with their families yesterday. Think of all the people we know who had a loved one die this year. There were lots of empty places around Christmas dinner tables all over the United States. But your table was full.

Moe:  Yeah…it was. I’m really being a selfish monkey, aren’t I, Mooster?

Mooster: Well, I do think you are focusing on the wrong things, Moe. God has blessed your family sooo much! You are missing out on the rejoicing and the blessings when you only think about what you didn’t get. You have a lot to praise the Lord about, Moe.

Moe: Aaahhhhhhh-chooooooo! Oh, man. You are right, Mooster. I am making myself miserable for no good reason. My best friend’s dad is in the Middle East right now. They got to Skype each other yesterday, but I know it’s not the same. I would have cried if my dad couldn’t be home for Christmas. And you are right about all the nice things my parents DID buy me. I guess I need to be reminded of all the good things I have every day.

Mooster: Excellent point, Moe. I think lots of times we all have that problem. We focus on what we don’t have. Sometimes that just seems so big! It’s like having an elephant in the closet. We can’t see all our clothes because the elephant is taking up so much space. But that doesn’t mean the clothes are gone. We just have to get rid of the elephant.

Moe:  Does the Bible say anything about gifts?

Mooster: Uh huh –sure does!  James 1:17 says, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” That means every gift we receive is ultimately from God, so we should always thank Him for everything we receive.

Moe:  I need to memorize that one. I bet it would help me.

Mooster:  It sure would! Do you know what the greatest gift of all time was?

Moe: O I know that one! It was the birth of Jesus Christ. God sent His Son, Jesus, to be the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of all mankind. If we ask Jesus Christ to forgive our sins and to be our Savior, He forgives all our sins and then we can go to heaven one day! God is willing to give us heaven because He gave us Jesus!

Mooster: Very good, Moe. There are people all over the world who received nothing yesterday in terms of physical gifts. But they could rejoice anyway because God gave them the greatest of gifts – salvation through Jesus Christ. People may be poor here on earth. They may never have a warm home or a nice car or plenty of food to eat. It’s hard for us to think like that because we live in America. But people all over the world live that way every day…always cold, always hungry, always needing clean water. But if they have asked Christ to save them, they know they will one day have all the beauties of heaven as their own. That’s something to rejoice over, whether you are rich or poor!

Moe: I agree! Ah-choo!

Mooster:  Bless you, Moe. So, let’s start this conversation alllllll over from the beginning, shall we? Hi, Moe! How was your Christmas?

Moe: It was the best Christmas, ever, Mooster. My mom and day and all my brothers and sisters were home. Dad has a great job now. My parents were able to buy all of us kids some amazing gifts. I got more than I deserve. And my parents loved all of us enough to not buy me that poison dart frog I asked for. I don’t even know why I put that dumb thing on the list. But best of all, I know that all my family members that are old enough to understand have asked Jesus to be their Savior. I know that if we die, we will see each other again in heaven. That’s the best Christmas gift of all.

Mooster:  Amen, Moe. I couldn’t have said it better! Boys and girls, remember: It doesn’t matter what you did or didn’t get for Christmas. What matters is what you have done with the gift that God sent you. Have you asked Jesus Christ to come into your heart and save you? Have you asked Him to forgive your sins? Do you believe that Jesus was born to die for you? Do you believe that He rose again and lives today in Heaven? If you ever need help praying and asking Christ to save you, I hope you will talk with one of the adults here. They would all be happy to show you how to be saved. Then you would have the greatest give ever given to man: Salvation!

Moe: I’m going to go home and write down all the things I’m thankful for. I think starting off the New Year by thanking God for all His blessings will help me keep my eyes focused on the right things.

Mooster: That’s a great idea! Kids, you can make a list too! Every night, before you go to bed, take a few moments to pray and thank God for all the many blessings He has given you, especially the blessing of salvation through Jesus Christ.

Moe: Bye everyone! Merry CHRISTmas!!! Happy New Year!

Mooster: Merry Christmas! Happy New Year!