Right at the toe of my Christmas Stocking, something round bulged out. It couldn’t be! I thought. I haven’t been that bad. There were several sweaty moments of waiting for my parents to wake up and join us extreme early birds that Christmas morning. Was I so naughty that Santa left me a lump of coal?

I began to recount all my naughtiness of days passed. I had screamed at my brothers for messing up my room. I had told a lie to my teacher that I didn’t write Bruce loves Holly true love always on Holly’s math paper. But I really did write that. I told one friend I wouldn’t play with her just because and another friend that she was my new best friend. I had taken a neighbor’s brand new bike for a ride without even asking. Yes, I had been very naughty. I was going to get what I deserved.

But, I had done some very nice things to show I was really a good girl. I had set the dinner table every time my mother asked me to without complaint. I had kept my room clean. I had taken the dog out into cold night while others were asleep. I didn’t watch too much television and instead read a book. I had practiced my piano piece many times before the Christmas Eve Service. Surely all of those good things made up for the bad things.

At the toe of my stocking, I found. something round, sweet smelling and orange. I pressed that glorious ball of fruit against my nose and could taste its juice. Inside a long rectangular box, I found the doll of my dreams. Her hair smelled of cinnamon and grew longer with one button and shorter with the turn of a knob. I’d been a nice girl after all.

It’s a mystery how that Christmas was still merry and most of the Christmases after that. Well over half a century of Christmases, and I’ve yet to receive a lump of coal. Yet, a lump of hard, dirty, black coal is what I deserve, but have never received. How can this be?

Because in a dirty place where perhaps lumps of coal might have made a small fire. That fire was made to warm a newborn baby. That baby was absolutely perfect. He born to save us from being so naughty and help us to be nice, even one day absolutely perfect just like Him.

That gift alone made should have makes a Christmas merry just as it makes it now.