A Kangaroo for Christmas?

     I heard about this fellow who somehow got it in his head that he wanted a pet kangaroo for Christmas.  Now he didn’t live ‘down under’ where I suppose it is somewhat feasible to have a pet kangaroo.  But that didn’t stop him from wanting one.  I think he saw a movie where a cool kid had one. He wanted to be a cool kid.  So, what better way to be cool than to have a pet kangaroo. 

     You see, nobody else has a pet kangaroo.  He could take it to school and the kids would want to be around him and his pet.  It would make him popular.  He could put his books in the pocket of the kangaroo and he would have a virtual walking (hopping) back pack.  If he ran into any bullies he could sic the kangaroo on him.

This is a great idea and he thought he should have a pet kangaroo.

     He asked his parents for one and while they never said “yes” they also never said “no.”  So, he took that as a yes.  He told his friends.  He stayed awake at night thinking about it.  He dreamed about it.  He was nearly obsessed with the ‘fact’ that he was getting a pet kangaroo for Christmas.

     When Christmas eve came, his father went to the railway station to pick something up.  Of course, he knew what it was.  His father put something in the basement when he got home… of course it was the kangaroo. Every noise he heard throughout the night he imagined it was the kangaroo going berserk in the basement.

     On Christmas morning, nothing but disappointment set in.  You see there was no kangaroo.  But the mysterious package from the railway station was a rather unique and elaborate tape recording device.  In that day (several decades ago) recording was new and certainly rare for a home unit.  The lad tried not to show his disappoint to his dad.  He loved his father and knew the father was pleased with his gift.  He spent most of the day in his room, crying.

     As time went by, the son took an interest in the recording device.  To make a long story short, he became an expert in recording things.  Today one of our nation’s largest Christian music ‘recording’ companies is the result of an unwanted gift.  Did you ever receive a gift you didn’t like?  Think twice before reacting, it just might be used of God to change your life and the life of others.