Kelly Havemeier

Dinosaur chopsticks. It was all he wanted for Christmas. Unusual? Yes, and in the interest of vying for Favorite Auntie status my 10-year-old nephew was going to get dinosaur chopsticks. From me. His favorite.

This should have been easy, because my sister had even forwarded me the exact link to the specific dinosaur chopsticks that he wanted on Amazon. It should have been easy. I was exceptionally proud of myself, because Christmas was handled early, an absolute family record! Except for this. I clicked my way through Amazon and completed the order. Done.

Or so I thought.

In just a few days’ time, Alexa boldly announced from the kitchen that my delivery had arrived. A moment later, this occasion was confirmed by an email, a text message, and a notification from my phone. It was here!

I made my way to the front door to find a box much larger than expected. Upon retrieving the package, something seemed wrong. The massive weight indicated that surely this was NOT dinosaur chopsticks. Or perhaps an incredible quantity of dinosaur chopsticks.

Maybe I have watched a few too many crime dramas, but I couldn’t help but ponder just what may happen when I opened the package. I weighed the idea of not even opening it. Did I need a bomb squad? Or a witness?
Fortunately, this package had a label attached to the outside. I carefully removed the slip to read “dinosaur chopsticks. $8.” Not likely.

There was no way around it and with curiosity at a fever pitch, I carefully opened the box. Imagine my surprise when I found a professional-grade knife set with block inside. This was definitely NOT dinosaur chopsticks. And definitely not $8. I logged in to Amazon.

My account confirmed the delivery with this message: Dinosaur chopsticks. Delivered.

And there was an email— “Are you enjoying your dinosaur chopsticks?”
It was time for a live chat with Amazon. They insisted, “We did not send you a knife set. Those are dinosaur chopsticks.”
Was Amazon trying to gaslight me?

And after several more futile attempts to rectify the situation, I gave up.
So, the boy did not get dinosaur chopsticks and I dashed to the store for some other wonderment that would capture the attention of a 10-year-old boy at Christmas.

We can make all the lists, complete all the things, and check it all twice, yet sometimes we don’t get the results we intended.

And we forget.

Forget wonder. Forget peace. Forget God.

Isn’t it just like God to bring order to a mess? Mary, young and very with-child, traveling long and hard, only to arrive in a city brimming with people, cast aside into a stable and yet, Jesus came anyway. God’s plan is always the best one.

So, we can keep working for Christmas—spending more money, baking more goodies, doing more stuff.

Or we can experience Christmas—pausing the rush, reflecting in silence, engaging in worship.

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”
Isaiah 7:14 ESV

He is Immanuel—God With Us. Just as God intended from the very beginning. The presents, the lights, the dinners, those things are all nice. But what really matters is that God came. For us. And He is still with us now. Sitting next to you in grief, holding you in uncertainty, smiling on you in moments of joy, and loving you no matter what.

The boy did not need Dinosaur Chopsticks to experience the wonder of Christmas. And you do not need a list with every box checked.

All you need this Christmas is Him. Jesus. Immanuel—God with Us. God with You.

“For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Isaiah 9:6 ESV

Merry Christmas, Friends!

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