They saw Mary, his mother, and fell down and worshiped him; and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts: gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. —Matthew 2:11
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When Goudchaux fashioned a window display for Christmas 1957, my father took us to see Santa Claus. This Santa Claus patted his knee and belly laughed. His laughter was infectious. Mr. Bingle, the Goudchaux snowman and several of Santa’s elves displayed all the children’s favorite toys—new buxom Barbies, Ken, Tonka trucks, Hula hoops, pogo sticks, baby dolls, tea sets, chemistry sets, a peg pounding tablet, a nurse’s kit, basketballs, tennis rackets, baseball bats, western hats and gun holsters, Howdie Doodie dolls.
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My father had a mission in taking us to see the window display. As with every good father, he aspired to find just the right Christmas present that would please each child. In post-World War II, he went to LSU on the GI Bill and became a lawyer. After the first hard years of eating potato soup and paying off a huge medical bill, he finally had money to spend on Christmas and this would be the BEST CHRISTMAS ever. It would make up for all those hard times. Poverty was an old friend. He remembered his letter to his father, written when he was in a Catholic orphanage in North Carolina in 1929. He dearly wanted a Bible. Could his father in Louisiana send him a Bible? But Grandpa Austin had a new family and new children. Cameron, La., was a harsh place to raise cattle and a family. There would be no Bible that year.
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When Christmas 1957 came, my twin sister Sharon and I received our chemistry sets, nurses kits and Barbie dolls. Martha got tea sets, baby dolls and doll clothes. Junior got Tonka trucks and a cowboy hat with vest, gun and holster. We were all thrilled with our gifts. But most special of all: on the table there were Bibles inscribed to each of us from our father. I did not know then how much the Bibles meant to Daddy. It was after he and Mama died that I found that letter to Grandpa Austin. And I will cherish the gift of the Bible and the gift of his love of Jesus.
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What special gift will you give this year?
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Father, Thank you for all the gifts you have given to us: especially the gift of your son, Jesus, born during this Christmas season. We are so grateful for our time, talents, compassion and necessities. We ask that we become generous givers during this Christmas season. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
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Grandy Sandy Davis