“So as you celebrate this year, and you think about what Christmas means, ask yourself this question: which part of Jesus’s life do you live for? Do you live for its beginning: the perfect baby, the gifts from kings and the Wise Men? Or do you live for its end: the grown man, hung on a wooden cross like a criminal, so that His gift might be given to you? That gift is being held out to you now; it’s held out to you every day of your life. The question is, Will you accept it? You’ll get gifts tomorrow that will someday break, be lost, shrink, whatever—but God is handing you a gift right now that will always be perfect: it’s the gift of a life with Him. All you have to do is accept it.”

He stepped away, a soloist came forward, and the band began to play a song. I was totally oblivious to the words being sung, because the words of the pastor were ringing in my head. I was confused by what he’d said, and I was kicking myself for not having paid attention from the beginning. What was this business about what part of the story you lived for? And what was the deal with Good Friday? I’d seen it on calendars before, but I didn’t know what it was. Was this preacher guy saying it had to do with death? Didn’t sound very good to me. And this gift thing totally boggled me. I didn’t know what to think.

The woman finished her song, and the pastor returned to the podium. He asked the congregation to stand and bow their heads for prayer. I bowed along with everyone else and listened to the prayer he prayed. He said that if anyone wanted to accept the gift God was offering, all they had to do was pray along with him, and then he began to speak about sinning and reconciliation and forgiveness. I was still confused. This was a weird Christmas service. I decided I’d have to ask Missy about it sometime.

The prayer ended, and the pastor bade everyone a merry Christmas. The lights came up, and people began milling around, visiting, and talking.

“So what did you think? Was it strange to you or anything?” asked Missy.

“Not weird, no,” I lied. I couldn’t help hesitating. “Well … all right, a little weird, but I’m just not used to church at all. I don’t really have much to compare it to. But it was okay.” I smiled.

“I’m glad it didn’t scare you away for life.” She grinned and was about to say something when two other women our age rushed up the aisle toward Missy.

“Hey, you guys!” She hugged them both, and then made the introductions. “This is Grace, she works with my mom at the firm. Grace, this is Joy and Taylor.”