December 17, 2001

"MY TWO FRONT TEETH"

Around September, kids start to formulate their idea of what they want for Christmas. The first draft of their Christmas wish list is often a good indication of their emerging individuality, through their interests in hobbies, role models, games or music that might help shape their future. Later, their list will probably be radically adjusted by the bombardment of television ads telling them what they really want. Amazingly, various children's lists become more and more alike as Christmas approaches, under the homogenizing influence of commercials and conversations with their friends.

I like the no-nonsense approach expressed in that old Christmas song, "All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth." It's not only easy on the parents' budget, but it also expresses a child's most primal need and desire—to grow up! All the toys and gadgets he might ask for would only fill his childhood hours until he could reach the next milestone of growth into adulthood, marked by the filling of the gap at the front of his mouth.

In the midst of all our other Christmas longings, let's remember to ask the Lord for our "two front teeth." Each of us is still a spiritual child. We still have glaring gaps that mark our spiritual immaturity. We may try to avoid facing the mirror of truth, but the empty spot in the middle of our smile is obvious to those who know us.

Because of this gap, we not only have a hard time saying "sister Susie sitting on a thistle," we have trouble even wishing other people a "Merry Christmas!" Truly caring about the welfare of others, even close family members, is limited by our sense of our own incompleteness. Our well-wishes to others are distorted by a lisp of self-centeredness.

So this Christmas, instead of asking the Lord for the latest adult toys to keep your mind off the emptiness within you, why not ask him for your "two front teeth?" Ask him to fill the gap in your character, in your dedication, in your relationship with him. Ask him to teach you how to whistle a true and heartfelt song of praise to him.

Wouldn't that be the greatest Christmas gift you could imagine?

–Pastor George Van Alstine