There’s this holiday that’s celebrated in Mexico called Three Kings Day. On this day they commemorate the visit of the Magi to the Christ child. One of the traditions that goes along with this holiday is the giving of gifts to children.
So, Gabe and his family gathered up 60 gifts for kids, including Legos, stuffed animals, barbies, Avengers action figures, and toy vehicles. And they went down to Puerto Vallarta to visit Gabe’s grandmother. She lives there three or so months of the year in an apartment on the fourth floor (with no elevator — for built in exercise).
When the day came to celebrate Three Kings Day they gathered up their gifts and met some people from Grandma Cindy’s church. They piled into a van with a pastor and some volunteers and headed to a poor neighborhood.
What happened when they arrived there has to be one of the most spontaneous celebrations I’ve ever heard of. The pastor saw three or four kids hanging out in front of a house and he told them to scatter and spread the word to the neighborhood that there was going to be a Three Kings Day celebration there. Right there. In the street. Right now.
They blocked the street with cars and set up tables with all of Gabe’s gifts piled on it. They also set out hot chocolate and pastries.
Within 20 minutes, the street was filled with kids, and parents, and grandparents, and people of all ages. The line of kids at the gift table extended for a long way. In fact, there were so many kids, and so many people, that Gabe and his family became concerned they didn’t bring as many gifts as needed. They only brought 60. Would it be enough?
As the night progressed and the kids collected their presents, the time finally came when the last kid approached, and there was one gift left.
So, at the end of the evening, every child received a gift.
And at the end of the evening, Andrew commented:
“I didn’t get a single toy tonight, but my emotional bucket is full.”
“And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’” Matthew 25:40
Kurt Cameron Bennett best known for his book Love Like Jesus. After attending church and studying the Bible for most of his adult life, he was challenged by a pastor to study Jesus. That led to an obsessive seven-year deep dive. After pouring over Jesus’ every interaction with another human being, he realized he was doing a much better job of studying Jesus’ words than he was following Jesus’ words and example. The honest and fearless revelations of Bennett’s own moral failures affirm he wrote Love Like Jesus for himself as much as for others. He currently lives in Hillsboro, Oregon, just a few miles from his son Gabe, daughter (-in-law) Charise, and grandson Andrew. He has another son Nate and daughter (-in-law) Anastasia who live in Sammamish, Washington. His blog, God Running is a place for anyone who wants to (or even anyone who wants to want to) love Jesus more deeply, follow Jesus more closely, and love people the way Jesus wants us to.
Featured Image by AYUSHMAN from pexels.com
Yes, Christmas returns to remind us that every life is ceaselessly called to be reborn. It is the celebration that leads us back to our inner dwelling, where courage, trust, and gratitude quietly take root. Christmas time is the season when we deepen within ourselves—and offer to others—the balm of joy that springs from shared goodness, from trust and hope: precious gifts that cannot be bought.
Your friend – His servant,
Isaac Otieno
Great comment Isaac! Thank you for stopping by.