It was Christmas Eve, Year of Our Lord 1996, in Friendswood Texas. We had just finished services at the Methodist church in town and were cruising back towards home. We were all packed into my Grandad’s Suburban, Grandad driving, Nona Judi riding shotgun, Mom and Dad in the passenger seats, Matt in the middle car seat, and I sitting in the very back in the cargo area! No seat belt of course, which was a highlight of riding in the very back! It was a perfect December that year, with temperatures in the mid-40s. But my mind was not on the weather, it was on the huge package with my name on it that Grandad had brought into the house the day before!

My grandparents always came two days before Christmas, which meant that Matt and I had to sit with eager and overflowing anticipation at the sight of the wrapped gifts. That year, I’m sure, my grandfather would have been talking about an online auction forum that had taken off, called eBay. Unbeknownst to all of us, that online institution would provide many Christmas gifts in the coming years, but I digress. That year the largest box I had ever seen wrapped in Christmas paper was lugged into the house, and it had my name on it! The only problem was that we only opened my grandparents’ gifts on Christmas Eve, after church service and dinner. Well, here we were in the suburban, heading home, the opening of gifts was almost upon us!

“Why don’t we go look at some Christmas lights,” my Grandad inquired. “That sounds great,” said Nona Judi. “Here’s a nice neighborhood,” my mom exclaimed. Oh great! Now our journey to the present opening party was cut short to look at some Christmas lights! But what was a seven-year-old to do, stuck in the backseat of a moving vehicle? I was along for the ride, and we were going to look at the lights.

Finally, we made our way onto our street, just a few more moments and the presents would be mine! “Can’t wait for dinner,” Grandad exclaimed.

Oh no! I had forgotten about dinner! Each year Mom would buy freshly made tamales and Grandad would cook a pot of pinto beans. It was normally one of my favorite meals but this year there were other pressing matters. “Dinner sounds perfect right about now,” my dad commented. What was wrong with these people!? Didn’t they know there were presents under the tree? But it was no use complaining (though I’m sure I did), we were having dinner, presents or not.

Finally, dinner had been concluded, the dishes had been washed, and my brother and I sat on the couch in the living room awaiting the moment of moments, the pinnacle of Christmas Eve, the time to open Grandad and Nona’s presents!

“Let’s all go get comfortable before we open presents tonight,” Grandad surmised. You have got to be kidding me! Really! Do you know how long it takes for grown-ups to get in their comfortable clothes? Forever! Once again, the gifts dispersal was postponed as my brother, and I trudged to get on pajamas. But once we returned to the living room Dad had made a fire, Nat King Cole was playing on the CD player, and the time had finally come.

“You know boys,” Grandad uttered, “I don’t want y’all to miss Santa Claus, maybe we should save the presents for tomorrow morning?” My heart nearly sank to my toes, surely this was some kind of sick joke, we were so close, and we had waited so long! This can’t be happening!

“I think there is still plenty of time,” my mom smiled. “Let’s go ahead and let these boys open some presents!” My Grandad smiled and nodded. It was then that I realized my parents and grandparents had been prolonging the presents just to mess with my brother and me, it worked!

Before I tell you what exactly was in that large package (now I’m the one prolonging the present) let me share this with you. My heart cherishes these moments, they bring a smile to my face and provide warm memories during this season. My Grandad passed away in 2021, just in time to meet his great-granddaughter, Shiloh. And I know I will pass some of his mischievous Christmas capers on to her, the poor child.

Isaiah 25 states, “It will be said on that day, “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the Lord; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” The anticipation of good tidings is a strong part of our Christmas traditions. Whether it be time with family, food on the table presents under the tree, or just the simple acts of kindness such as coins in a Salvation Army Can. These feelings tie us back to the ancients as they awaited the coming of the Messiah. This Christmas Season we not only celebrate the presence of Christ Jesus among us but also His inevitable return to this earth. The story is not yet over, there is still joy and hope to come! Glory be to God!

Oh, I almost forgot! The present I received that year was one of the greatest and most cherished of my life. It was my first Lionel Train Set, a US Navy Freight Train. Both my father and grandad got down on the floor with me as we set up the track, put on the engine and cars, and hooked up the transformer. That evening concluded with the singing sound of an electric train cruising around the track, with a diesel horn breaking through, and laughter from children, parents, and grandparents. Not to mention Nat King Cole playing in the background.

It was the Christmas that began my collection of trains, and it still sits in my office to this day. Worth the wait, but the memories have been the best gift of all.

Seasons Greetings!

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Pastor Mike McVey
Minister – First United Methodist Church, Fairfield TX
ACS Chaplain – United States Coast Guard, Station Galveston TX