I love Christmas! To be perfect, it must be a white Christmas. My mind wanders back to the years when every Christmas was white. I was living on the Kamchatka peninsula in Far East Russia……

The snow drifted softly across our windshield as my husband and I drove eight grueling hours, on a winding road through the wilderness, to visit our friend Alexei. I sighed as we finally pulled into the driveway at Alexei’s one-room cabin. The waist-deep snow reflected the glow of welcoming lights shining through the windows. It was a winter wonderland!

We drank gallons of fragrant black tea while we caught up on all the news with Alexei. Exhausted, we made a bed on the floor near the wood stove and slept, enjoying the comforting warmth of the stove.

The next morning, I awoke to the sound of wood being pitched into the stove. Through heavy eyelids, I watched Alexei set a tall pot of water on the glowing stove. My stomach growled, anticipating a big warm bowl of oatmeal.

Our host shuffled out the door and returned carrying a couple of long objects. I looked, rubbed my eyes, and then looked again. Staring as Alexei placed two reindeer legs into the pot, I pinched myself to make sure I was awake. Yes, they were reindeer legs. Skinned, but with a little fringe of fur fluttering around the hooves.

My mind began inventing excuses for skipping breakfast. I realized Alexei was offering the best he had, and I would have to eat it. I started praying the overseas worker’s prayer, “Lord, I’ll swallow it, but please help me keep it down.” I slipped out of my warm sleeping bag and trudged to the outhouse to answer nature’s call.

Upon my return, I tried to keep my eyes away from the reindeer hooves gently rotating in the pot of boiling water. My mind conjured up a vision of sitting at the breakfast table with a giant platter of reindeer legs in front of me. How do you politely eat reindeer legs? Use the hooves as a handle while gnawing on them like giant drumsticks?

Finally, Alexei pronounced the legs cooked and pulled them out of the pot. Quickly he turned and scooted out the door with the steaming legs. Where was he going????

I stealthily trailed behind Alexei observing his every move, gawking as he flung the reindeer legs to the salivating guard dog tied up beside the cabin. I nearly sank to my knees in relief. Leg of reindeer was not on our breakfast menu.

Later, we questioned Alexei about the reindeer legs. He led us out back to a broken refrigerator lying in a mound of snow and opened the door to reveal a stack of frozen reindeer legs. It looked like a Christmas day massacre of Santa’s reindeer.

Alexei explained that reindeer herders from a nearby village had passed through selling reindeer meat. The legs were cheap and were an excellent supplement to the guard dog’s usual diet of gruel and scraps.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is still one of my favorite Christmas movies. As I watch his graceful take-off, I can’t help but wonder if his legs would be tasty…..

Today, an Alaskan winter landscape fills the view from my window. The snow blankets the ground, hiding the frozen ground and making the world appear fresh and untouched. A gloriously blank slate promising a new beginning upon the arrival of spring.

As Christmas preparations swirl around me, I purposely take a step back from the chaos and stop to think about Jesus. I’m amazed that He willingly left the splendor of heaven to come to earth as a tiny baby. Jesus came to give us a heart as clean and white as new-fallen snow. He gave us a chance to not only erase our slate, but he provided a new blank slate. He forgives our sins, fills our lives with His presence, and gives us a new heart as dazzling white as the snow gently falling outside my window.

I pray as you celebrate this Christmas season that you set aside time to reflect on Jesus’ birth and the gift of eternal life that he gives to those who believe.

This is the true gift of Christmas.

Until next year, Merry Christmas!