When I was in elementary school in the 1950’s,the school bus driver would give a little gift to each student as we got off the bus the last day before Christmas. Those were simpler times, and such little tokens were very much appreciated.

            Most years the gift included a little bag of hard tack candy and an orange. For many reasons, we delighted in the orange more than the candy. You see, oranges were not normally available at the local stores, at least not during winter.

            These days it is easy to buy oranges in most super markets any time in the year. But then it was a special treat to have an orange at Christmas time. In fact, a fresh orange became for me a symbol of Christmas. Living in a rural area of northwest Ohio, it meant that something out of the ordinary was coming into my world. Sounds like Christmas, doesn’t it?

            Before this weekend comes, I will be stopping by the local market to get some fresh oranges. Likely, I will be giving some to others, too.

            What we celebrate is truly out of the ordinary. 

“For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord.”

Luke2:11