Unspeakable Gift

 by Claire Miller (ages 14-17)

   Andrea Carter hummed as she neatened up her house for Christmas, which was tomorrow. Wonderful memories of Christmases long gone floated through her mind as she worked and chances to make new memories stood before her. Andi was sure that this Christmas would find a dear spot in her heart because it was her first Christmas with her very own child. She gave one last sweep of the duster and then stood back to admire the room. Her eyes scanned over the tree she and Riley had decorated, it stood tall and gave a warm glow to the room.

   Now everything is all ready for Christmas. Andi was glad Jared had napped through the entirety of the afternoon so she could clean up the house and bake cookies—

“Oh no, the cookies!” she shouted. Andi dropped her duster and ran toward the kitchen. She wasn’t sure how long she had been cleaning, but she knew it was long enough for sugar cookies to burn. Sure enough, when she opened the oven and plopped the tray on the counter, hard, dark lumps greeted her.

Aw… I wanted these to be perfect and now I don’t have time to make more before Christmas. What’s worse is that nobody I know has been bad enough that I could put these in their stocking! She had hoped to give the cookies to Riley, but the gift wasn’t perfect enough.

   “Your gift doesn’t have to be perfect, because at Christmas we celebrate the one and only gift that could ever be perfect... ‘Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift’”. Andi remembered another Christmas when someone taught her that no gift she made, no matter how hard she tried, could ever be the perfect gift.

***

   Six year old Andi stood in the corner, watching everybody in her family greet the newly arrived Prescott family. She preferred to just stand and watch, for now. I’ll wait ‘til everybody clears out, then I’ll say hello.

Andi looked at Mrs. Prescott; she had dark hair and a smiling face, but she looked pale and worn out from being sick for a while. Andi turned her gaze to her friend Riley who had come and stayed with his uncle Sid until his mama could get well and strong again. While Andi knew that Riley loved staying with them, he did miss his family and she was glad that they could be together this Christmas. He looked so happy to see his mama, like he couldn’t believe that she was actually there, and she was actually going to spend Christmas with him.

Andi wondered if Riley’s mother being well meant that he would leave the Circle C Ranch soon. She shuddered. She didn’t want to think that he would leave and the very thought of it made her want to cry. If he left now she would probably never see him again. Andi was glad that Riley’s mother was better, but she didn’t want to see him leave just yet. Andi saw that Riley was excitedly motioning her over; his mother looked over and smiled invitingly over at her.

“You must be Andrea. Riley told me all about you so I feel like I already know you”. She laughed softly. “You two must have all kinds of fun together”. 

“It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Prescott. I hope that when Riley told you all about me that he told you I like to be called Andi”. She suddenly realized that sounded a little rude. She was sure that Mother or Aunt Rebecca would scold her if they caught her saying that, but neither of them overheard her.

Mrs. Prescott only grinned. “He sure did, and I’ll call you Andi since I see I have your permission”.

Andi smiled back. Most grown ladies didn’t call her by her nickname, they always called her Andrea, no matter how many times she asked them to call her Andi. She decided right then and there that Mrs. Prescott was the most wonderful lady she ever met, next to her mother.

Mrs. Prescott sighed contentedly. “Andi I can’t tell you how happy I am that you and Riley are friends. I was so worried when we first sent Riley to live with Sid that he would be lonely and wouldn’t ever have any fun. When I got my first letter from him, he told me about an amazing girl named Andrea Carter, but prefers to be called Andi, who  is now his best friend. I was glad that you two struck it up so well because after him telling me about you I knew you would be the best of friends”.

Andi looked at Riley and smiled. “I’m glad we’re friends too and I’m glad that all of you get to spend Christmas with us”.

Just then Andi’s mother, Elizabeth Carter came over. “Please, come sit and make yourself comfortable”. She led the way to the sofa. Andi followed close by Riley.

Everybody settled in the living room and talked merrily. Soon, sugar cookies were passed out along with hot cocoa. Andi enjoyed the warm and cozy feeling the room had with all of them there together. It was so pleasant to see all the happy faces and to hear the lively conversation. Nights like these always had a magic feeling to them for Andi. On nights like these you tended to notice the world around you more and to appreciate and love the people around you better. Everything in general seemed more beautiful and bright. Andi wasn’t sure but she thought that this was what having the Christmas spirit must be.

 The conversation turned to things Andi didn’t know much about and she soon became bored. She yawned and looked around listlessly. Her eyes fell upon Riley who, although enjoying being with his mother, looked equally bored. She tried to get his attention and finally succeeded. He seemed to understand what was on her mind and nodded.

Andi sat on the edge of her seat, waiting for the perfect opportunity to say something without interrupting. But they just kept on talking and talking. Whenever it seemed like the perfect moment to chime in, someone else would say something and she’d have to wait all over again. Andi almost lost all hope of saying anything at all until Chad piped up.

“Andi looks like she has something to say and she should probably be allowed to say it real quick before she bursts”. He chuckled.

Way to go Chad, now everybody is looking at me. But she was grateful her brother had spoken up for her.

“Did you want something, Andrea?” Mother asked.

“I just wanted to ask if me and Riley may be excused.”  She knew that Riley liked being with his mother, but she and him didn’t really get a chance to talk that day and she was sure that Riley would want to tell her all about how happy he was that his mother was here.

“‘Riley and I’” Mother corrected. She looked at Mrs. Prescott who nodded. “Yes you may be excused”.

“Thanks a bunch, Mother!” Andi motioned Riley to follow and they ran off towards the stairs.

Andi could almost hear her bossy Aunt Rebecca asking something like “Elizabeth when are you going to teach that girl of yours to behave properly? A young lady shouldn’t run around the house like that, she should walk. Why, when I was her age...”. But she didn’t care, she was glad to go up to her room where it was quiet.

   “C’mon, Riley!” Andi shoved her long dark braid out of her face and shouted back to him as they ran up the stairs and into her room.

“Andi, I can’t believe it, my Mama is here and she’s alright and we’re going to spend Christmas with you and your family. This is going to be the best Christmas ever!”

Andi smiled. “I’m glad that you can all stay, it’s going to be so exciting!” Andi walked over to her bed and looked through the heap of brightly wrapped packages, double checking to make sure she got something for everyone in her family. Good. Something for everyone in her family from Mother all the way down to Melinda. She had gotten something for Riley, Sid, and she was sure she could scramble up something for Riley’s pa. But she didn’t have anything that she could give to Riley’s mama.

Andi panicked. She wasn’t sure if she could make a present for Mrs. Prescott so last minute. If she had known they were coming she would've made her a present long before now, but they wanted to surprise Riley so she had no idea the Prescotts were going to spend Christmas with the Carters. Andi knew she had to make something fast if she wanted to give Mrs. Prescott a present tomorrow.

“What are you doing?”

Andi scrambled around trying to find a piece of paper, a pencil, and something to color with. “Trying to make something for your mama for tomorrow, but I have no idea what to make” She sighed.

“Well, you don’t have to make her anything. You didn’t know she was coming, and she probably isn’t even expecting you to give her anything”.

Andi dumped her supplies on the floor. “I know, but your mama is so nice and I want to get her something”. She thought for a while, and finally decided to make an ornament. She drew a star and colored it yellow, then cut it out and poked a hole in it. Andi found a pretty silver ribbon and strung the ornament on it. She frowned at it; it looked so plain that she wasn’t sure she wanted to give it to Riley’s mama.

Riley peeked over her shoulder. “It looks great Andi, mama will love it”.

“Do you really think so?” She looked at it skeptically. “I don’t know that I want to give it to her, it’s not very pretty”.

“I think it looks great, but even if she doesn’t like it that much, she’ll still appreciate all the effort you put into it. Mama always says that it doesn’t matter what you give, so long as you give it with love.”

Andi sighed, she didn’t have anything else to give to Mrs. Prescott, so it was this or nothing and Andi liked her so she wanted to give her something even if it wasn’t very good. She suddenly realized she had no way to wrap the present because all the wrapping paper was downstairs. She’d have to make her own wrapping paper, which would not be as pretty as the real paper. She took another sheet of paper and drew Christmas trees all over it and wrapped the ornament in it.

   ****

   Andi shut the door with a tiny bang and jumped off the porch. She walked briskly towards the barn and shivered as the nippy wind hit her in the face. “Merry Christmas, Taffy!” Andi called out to her foal as she ducked into the barn.

Taffy pranced up to the stall and stuck her nose over the edge.

“I’m happy to see you, too”  she reached over and stroked Taffy's golden head.

From the next stall over a small brown pony stuck his head over the door and looked at Andi. “I’m happy to see you, too Coco”.

She studied her surroundings, grateful that she could spend time with her foal on the first Christmas having her. The whole barn was warm and smelled of hay and was filled with the sounds of whinnying and nickering. Andi felt as though she could crawl on the piles of hay and sleep for a long time.

She turned back to her palomino foal. “Oh Taffy, it’s a beautiful Christmas! I got my knife and harmonica just like I wanted!” Andi’s smile faded and she sighed. “Taffy, I still haven’t given Mrs. Prescott her present, yet. I am just too embarrassed to give it to her, but I don’t just want to not give her anything”.

She slumped against the stall door and sighed again. “Riley is right, I don’t have to get her anything, she’ll still like me even if I don’t give her something. The problem is, that I like her so much that I’d be upset if I didn’t get her anything”

Taffy snorted and pawed the ground.

“You’re right Taffy, it’s the thought that counts. Still, I think she should get something better than that”. Andi straightened and brushed her dress and gave Taffy a final pat. “Well, I better get back in, Mother doesn’t like it when I’m not around while we have company. Bye, see you tomorrow!”

…

   Andi took a deep breath and walked towards Mrs. Prescott. She had been putting off giving her the present all day because she didn’t want Mrs. Prescott to tell her that she loved the present if she really didn’t. Andi knew that she couldn’t put it off any longer or else she would never have a chance to give a present at all and she didn’t want to do that, especially since Mrs. Prescott had already given her a present.

   As Andi neared the settee Mrs. Prescott looked up and greeted her. “Hello Andi, please sit down beside me”.

Andi did as she was told, half regretting the decision to still give the present to her. But she was here and it was too late now.“I have a gift for you, Mrs. Prescott. Merry Christmas”. Andi said as she handed the wrapped ornament over. She had wanted to say so much more, to explain that she didn’t have enough time or she would have given something nicer, to apologize for the lame gift. Merry Christmas was all Andi could bring herself to say.

   “Merry Christmas to you too, Andrea and you shouldn’t have”.

She’s right. Thought Andi. I shouldn’t have given her such a cheap present. She watched nervously as Mrs. Prescott carefully unwrapped the paper that she had tediously drawn on.

   “Oh, it’s beautiful and you drew it yourself. Thank you Andi, I love it”.

Andi could tell that Mrs. Prescott wasn’t lying just to make her feel better, but she wasn’t sure why she loved it so much. After all, it hadn’t taken her very long to make and it was so plain.

   “I’m sorry it isn’t as nice as something that can be bought. I wanted it to be perfect for you”. Andi turned away and looked at her lap. She wished that she could’ve had time to go to the mercantile to buy something nice.

   “I like it, Andi and I’m glad you made me something with your own hands”. She paused, `` I want to tell you something, are you willing to listen?” Andi looked up. Mrs. Prescott was smiling but Andi knew what she had to tell her was important. She nodded and Mrs. Prescott began.

   “A long time ago, starting from the time when Moses lived, there were men chosen by God who were called priests. Everyday these priests would offer sacrifices to God for their sins and the sins of all the people of Israel. Can you imagine offering sacrifices every day, Andrea?”

“They had to do it every single day?” Andi thought about it, she had to do chores everyday and that was a lot of work, but it must have been so much to sacrifice animals everyday for everyone.

Mrs. Prescott nodded. “Everyday and it had to be done just right everyday”.

Andi was sure that must’ve been hard to do. She knew that her chores were done less than perfectly because she often dropped the eggs she collected.

“The priests had to do this everyday because no one else could make them unsinful in God’s eyes. These sacrifices weren’t perfect because the priests themselves weren’t perfect and each sacrifice was only enough for that day before it had to be done again the next day. A long time later, after all those priests were dead, God sent His Son down to earth to die. In His death, Jesus made the final sacrifice, one that didn’t have to be done over and over again. That sacrifice was perfect because Jesus is perfect. God sent His Son as a gift of salvation to those who will receive it.

“So you see, your gift doesn’t have to be perfect, because at Christmas we celebrate the one and only gift that could ever be perfect. The gift that God gave us. Second Corinthians nine, verse fifteen says: ‘Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift’ No one can ever say just how perfect of a gift Jesus’ death is. Does that make you feel any better?”.

Andi smiled. “It sure does, I’m glad you told me that, I never thought about it that way”.

 …

   Andi smiled at the remembrance of  that beautiful Christmas evening. She really hadn’t understood all that was being told to her, but it had made her feel better at the time. Now everything that Mrs. Prescott had told her that night made sense.

It was such a beautiful thing to think about that while she messed up and wasn’t perfect, that she wasn’t expected to be because Jesus was perfect for her. She wasn’t the only one who messed up, everyone did and that was the reason that Jesus came, the reason His gift was perfect. She wished now that she had understood that back then because more than likely she would have remembered Mrs. Prescott better.

Looking back upon her past Christmases, she realized with shame that most of them weren’t really centered on the thought of God’s perfect gift. Most of them were overshadowed by the many distractions that Christmas can bring.

“Please God” she prayed “help me to never forget that Christmas is really about your gift to us. ‘Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift”.

Andi looked down at the cookies she had made once more. She still didn’t plan on giving them to Riley because while she knew that they didn’t have to be perfect, she also knew there was a huge difference between something that wasn’t perfect and something that was just downright inedible.