No present left unopened
Here is a re-creation of a story I told the children (and adults) at First Parish Church in Taunton in September or October 2004. Feel free to share it.
The stories about Jesus in the Christian Bible often are of Jesus telling stories, or parables, as a way to teach important lessons. In one story, Jesus tells of a shepard who leaves his 99 sheep to search for a single lost sheep. This is not a story about sheep or shepards. It is a story about people. Jesus was teaching that everyone is important, that no one is expendable.
On Christmas morning or at a birthday party, there are lots of wrapped presents. Big presents, small presents, boxes, gift bags, presents wrapped in pretty paper, plain paper or even newspaper. No matter how many presents there are, or what they look like, every present is always opened. No one would leave a present under the tree or on the gift table unopened. We just have to find out what is inside each gift-wrapped package. No one ever says, "That one is too small or too plain or too much work to unwrap." Who knows, the last one might be the best one - the one we really wanted more than anything else.
Children are presents. Some might say they are gifts from God or a present that parents give to the world. These presents, too, come in many shapes and sizes, some fancy, others not so much. It takes a lifetime to unwrap these special gifts, to unlock their potential and find out what wonders they hold. One may be a scientist who finds a cure for AIDS or cancer. Another might be an inspirational minister who helps people find a right path to follow. Another may be a great teacher, a wise leader or a school bus driver who makes sure that the children arrive safe at school every day. Until each one is opened, we just don’t know. What if the one we missed might have had the most beautiful smile and every time you looked at that smile you felt just a little bit happier.
No present is ever left unopened and no child can be left behind. We must ensure that children receive what they need to reach their full potential , to be that special gift to the world.
