It’s time to open presents! It’s what you’ve waited for all year.

Wrapping paper is tossed in the air and floats to the floor. Children hold up toys to pose for cameras. Christmas cookies disappear. You are enjoying the holiday scents in Grandma’s living room while listening to the buzz of a family reunion.

But in the midst of the festive gift-opening ceremony, you notice your pile of gifts isn’t as high as you anticipated. Only a few packages remain under the tree. As the “elf” of the family reads the label on each remaining package, he neglects to say your name. You start to feel a little uneasy. You know you shouldn’t be ungrateful. You know that Christmas isn’t about what you get. You know Christmas is about Jesus’ birth and celebrating with friends and family. But there’s a little part of you that’s disappointed. You’re ashamed to admit it, but inside you’re thinking, “That’s it? This is all I get?”

A testimony we may take for granted

The hype leading up to that first Christmas was tremendous. A few thousand years earlier God initiated the biggest marketing campaign ever when he announced to the devil in the Garden of Eden, “Somebody’s coming to crush your head!” The marketing campaign continued for generations. Prophet after prophet relayed the message of a promised Savior. Parent after parent sat children on their laps and told them about this Great One who was to come. Daily and weekly ceremonies at the temple pointed ahead to the great Messiah. The expectations were magnificent. Jesus was the most hyped person in history.