About 30 years ago a boy named Tony was born blind. However, when he was about seven years old, his doctor read in the New England Journal of Medicine of a new surgical procedure that showed some promise for correcting his particular eye problem. A young surgeon at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston had developed it and so the local doctor and the surgeon began communicating. The boy’s full medical record was sent and in time a decision was made to try the surgery.

Tony, the boy, had a favorite teddy bear which he kept with him at all times. This teddy bear had begun to show signs of wear. One eye was missing; one ear was chewed off; and the stuffing was oozing out through several holes. Tony’s mother had offered to buy him a new bear, but he didn’t want a new one. So, the old one went with him to Boston and remained close through all the x-rays, tests and consultations. In fact, the boy and his teddy bear were not separated until the anesthesia was applied for the surgery itself.

When the surgery was completed, Tony was heavily bandaged and had to remain still for a number of days. But each day the surgeon was in and out of the room to encourage him.

Finally the day came for removing the bandages. For the first time in seven years Tony could see. Though his vision was blurred at first, it gradually clarified and for the first time Tony could look into the faces of his parents.

Before long it was time for Tony to be discharged and to go home. On that final morning, the surgeon signed the necessary discharge papers and he gave Tony a big hug and said, “Listen, I own stock in you. I expect to get letters from you regularly. Do you understand?”

Then Tony did something totally unexpected. He said to his surgeon friend, “I want you to have this,” and he handed him his teddy bear. The surgeon’s first impulse was to say, “Oh no, I can’t take that.” But something stopped him. With a flash of sensitive genius, the surgeon understood what Tony was trying to do. He wanted to give his dear surgeon-friend the most precious gift at his disposal, so full was his heart with love. The wise surgeon accepted the teddy bear with a hug and a thank you, assuring Tony that he would take mighty good care of his friend.

For over 10 years that teddy bear sat in a glass case on the 10th floor of Massachusetts General Hospital — one eye missing, one ear half chewed off, and stuffing oozing out of several holes. In front of the teddy bear was the surgeon’s card and just beneath his name he had written this caption: “This is the highest fee I have ever received for professional services rendered.” A little boy had given the most precious item he had, out of a love-filled heart.

This is a parable of Christmas. Two thousand years ago our gracious God, with a heart filled with love, looked out upon a sin-marred, tear-stained world. Had you and I been in charge we might have destroyed the whole mess and started over. But God’s great heart was too full of love to allow that. So he gave us the most precious gift at his disposal; he gave himself.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,
so that everyone who believes in him may not perish
but have eternal life.”

Gregory A.W. Green, “All That Glitters,” December 25, 2005. firstpres-charlotte.org/sermons. Retrieved June 10, 2006.