The Gift of the Mage
The mage packed for the journey, sending his wife to pick out a present.
“Who is this for, anyway?”
“A baby.”
“So… a blanket? Tapestry?”
“He’s supposed to be the Messiah, maybe? A king? That’s what the prophecies say.”
“Better bring something fancy then. Here, some frankincense. My aromatherapist swears by it.
Good for the joints, and brain health. Kings need to be nimble and smart.”
After a tiring journey with his fellow magi, the mage set down the gleaming bottle in front of the baby and his parents. If it weren’t for his precise calculations, he would have thought he was in the wrong place. A scruffy man and young girl here in a barn with a newborn wrapped in old scraps surrounded by animals and shepherds. This frankincense would surely be sold for food.
The shepherds didn’t belong here either– weren’t they usually hermits? They told him about being visited by a host of angels and…well, it sure did sound crazy. But it was they who convinced him they were all in the right place. It takes a lot for shepherds to leave their sheep.
So he sat, careful not to soil his fine robes. The other magi did the same, taking in the scene and slowly realizing that this baby wasn’t like any king they had visited before. In the hush of the spirit, they knew. This baby, this moment, was something bigger than all of them.
The Prince of Peace. Finally. After so many years of hatred and conflict. If they could keep the despot Herod from harming the baby, all would be well.
He worshipped the little child, filled with awe and thankfulness that his own children would finally live in a world of peace.
Melanie Kyer
January 06, 2026