A Small-Town Fair
A Small-Town Fair
“I think that sometimes we focus on the shepherds or the wisemen or the manger and totally miss some of the details in the story—like what the gold meant, what the frankincense meant, and what the myrrh meant.”
— Pastor Tony Walliser
“After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.”
— Matthew 2:9–11, NIV
Just before my senior year of high school, my family moved to Frankfort, Kentucky. Though Frankfort is the capital, it felt more like a small town—especially compared to nearby Lexington or Louisville. Because of that, the county fair was a much bigger deal than anything I’d ever seen before.
Frankfort and the Franklin County Fair were straight out of a country song—small-town charm, familiar faces, and summer nights under bright lights.
Lexington had the big Bluegrass Fair, and Louisville hosted the State Fair, filled with concerts, huge rides, and crowds from across the state. But the Franklin County Fair was more homegrown—local pageants, smaller rides, and simple carnival games.
A Lesson in Giving
At that point in my life, I was a pretty good basketball player—tall and confident with a decent shot. One night, some friends and I decided to hang out at the fair. When we reached the basketball shooting game, they challenged me to a contest: two shots for a dollar on a smaller-than-normal rim.
The first few guys missed. Before I shot, I asked the vendor to prove the ball could really fit through the hoop. He sank a quick short shot, and I was ready. My first shot—swish! Clean through. For the second, I asked for the same ball, shot again, swish! Another perfect make. I’d just won myself a teddy bear.
We were celebrating when a little girl walking by spotted my prize. She turned to her father and asked if she could have one. Before he could respond, I knelt down and said with a smile, “You can have this one—but only if you come watch us play basketball this season.” Her eyes lit up, and her dad thanked me, saying, “We’ll be cheering for the Frankfort High Panthers.”
That simple act—giving away a prize—filled me with joy.
The rest of the night, I used the rest of my ten dollars to win nine more teddy bears (until the vendor politely asked me to stop) and gave them away to other kids. Months later, during basketball season, I noticed something amazing: those same families came to nearly every home game.
That evening at the fair taught me a lesson I still carry—the true joy and power of giving.
The Gifts of the Magi
The wise men also understood the value of giving. They traveled from afar to bring meaningful gifts to a child born under a guiding star—the King of Kings.
Their gifts carried deep spiritual significance:
- Gold— Fit for a king; pure, valuable, and enduring.
- Frankincense— A gift for a priest; used in offerings of worship and thanksgiving to God.
- Myrrh— A gift for the Savior; used in burial, symbolizing the suffering Jesus would endure to bring salvation.
The Magi bowed and worshiped not just any child, but God’s Child—His only Son. Jesus would grow into a holy, sinless man, born to die so that we might live. His death on the cross paid the price for our sin, and His resurrection opened the way for eternal life.
Jesus is the greatest gift of all.
This Christmas, may we remember the priceless gift of Christ—the grace He freely gives—and may we learn to mirror that love by giving generously to others, especially those in need.
Father, thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus—the greatest gift of all. Teach us to give as You gave, with hearts full of love and joy. Let our giving reflect Your grace and draw others closer to You.
Amen.