Life After Christmas—The Island of Misfit Toys

The hoopla of Christmas is over.

Celebration’s end often leaves us falling off the edge of a holiday high.

Do you know the feeling? Days spent in hustle and bustle. Gifts chosen and wrapped. Food prepared and devoured. Decorations glittered and dazzled.

Like a cup of tea, family gatherings filled us to the brim with glee.

The celebrating, the hope-infused wishes, and the giving don’t have to go away. The true meaning of the first Christmas story continues until eternity.

I love stories. They are powerful pieces of life and imagination. Heart-felt stories. Christmas stories. Both make-believe and real. Those that stir our long-awaited dreams.

I’m a fan of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. The book and movie’s message melts the heart of every boy and girl. And adults escape the real world of heartache for moments of happy endings and “hoorays!”

Wanted Therefore Chosen

Rudolph’s the misfit poster-child of reindeer. The others called him names. Being different was okay until words spoken out loud preached different is not acceptable. Not to them.

I understood. Perhaps you, too, relate to a misfit story.

In the same manner as placing Christmas presents on a wish-list, Rudolph had one desire—to be wanted and chosen. He runs away befriending two kindred-spirits labeled “different.” They find themselves on the island of misfit toys. How fitting.

Allowed to spend the night if they promised to coax Santa into finding a permanent home for the toys. Rudolph’s bright nose causes a bit of a nuisance since the Abominable Snow Monster will spot them. He leaves to ensure safety for his new friends.

Remember the end of the story? Rudolph makes good on his promise. He brings Santa to pick up the toys Christmas Eve and guides Santa’s sleigh on a foggy flight that night.

The toys were wanted. And chosen. Boys and girls jubilant who received them. We are wanted by the Christ child. Jesus is jubilant to receive us to Himself.

Loved Therefore Treasured

Have you been abandoned? Left on the sidelines? Excluded? Walked out on? Felt unlovable?

At the center of the real Christmas story is love. Jesus Christ came as God Incarnate—flesh and bone. He understood rejection. Experienced abandonment. People called Him different.

He loves us. Treasures us. Just as I am. Just as you are. 

Rescued Therefore Kept

God’s Son came to rescue every misfit the first Christmas night. Spiritual misfits. Born broken by sin, tattered by the world’s injustices and heartaches.

God makes good on His promise. He came in the flesh. To save us. Moments of “hoorays!”

He keeps us forever. Even when Christmas is over, there’s no re-gifting. No exchanges. No refunds. No collecting dust on God’s shelf.

He came to choose, love, and rescue each of us. The birth of God’s son is only the first chapter of the Christmas story.

The earthly ministry of Jesus coupled with His crucifixion and resurrection tell us the rest of the story.

A message resonating throughout the world, “you’re a keeper.”

Jesus arrived in this world to find a permanent home for you in the next world.

Every man, woman, and child from all walks of life across the face of the earth. Wanted. Chosen. Loved. Treasured. Rescued. Kept.

During my childhood, I questioned the existence of Santa. But there were two important life-questions I pondered:

1. Is there a God?
2. Am I lovable?

A few months ago, my husband helped me film this storyline video. Watch my story to discover the answers.

Featured image courtesy of Pixabay.com.

Other images by Karen Friday.