Back in 1891, Robert Louis Stevenson, author of such classics as DR. JEKYLL
AND MR. HYDE and KIDNAPPED, gave a rather odd gift to the daughter of a friend of his. This friend, Henry Ide, once joked that Christmas was not the happiest day of the year in his household. His fourteen-year-old daughter, Annie, had been born on Christmas, and she always complained that she got cheated out of a separate birthday party. So Robert Louis Stevenson came up with the idea of giving away his birthday. He drew up a legal document transferring all the “rights and privileges” of his birthday, which fell on November 13th, to Miss Annie H. Ide. From that day forward, Annie celebrated her birthday on November 13th.
I don’t know about being “cheated” b/c one is born on Christmas. Anyone (I know some people who were born on Christmas Day) can and should celebrate their birthday whether it is on Christmas, Easter, or Thanksgiving Day. If we believe Christmas is Christ’s birthday, how was Annie being cheated? Was she expecting a gift on Christ’s birthday, too? I don’t suppose she expects a gift on “my” birthday or “your” birthday do you? Exchanging gifts on Christmas should be a reminder of the “ultimate gift” given to us by God, Jesus Christ.
Robert Louis Stevenson was not the first to transfer all his “rights and privileges” to someone else. In a sense Jesus transferred His rights over to us. He became mortal that he might transfer some of his immortality to us. Jesus became human that he might transfer the spark of divinity to us. Jesus became a servant that he might transfer us to the status of sons and daughters. John 1:14 says, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (NIV).
Merry Christmas and happy birthday to you if your birthday falls on 25th!
Pastor Loren