Each year it
seems the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas becomes shorter. There are
always parties to attend, family and friends to visit, delicious treats to
prepare and gifts to purchase. This year, my family (my parents, brother,
sister-in-law, nephew, nieces and myself) filled some of that time with a 4 day
vacation at Disney World beginning the day after Thanksgiving. It was a joy and
a blessing. Since returning home from the trip, I find myself remembering
little moments…things like my three year old niece saying, “you can’t be mad or
sad at Disney World”. What a great reminder to keep proper perspective, to
think about where you are (Disney World is the happiest place on earth!) and be
happy and joyful about your circumstances. Sure, the streets of Magic Kingdom
were tightly packed with people that at times you could barely step left or
right and spending 2 hours in line for 1 ride would not have been our first
choice, but we were at Disney World and there were many reasons to be thankful.
The time with family was a true gift from above and I treasure the memories.
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down
from the Father of lights with whom there is not variation or shadow due to
change. – James 1:17
I spent several of the
last 24 hours wrapping presents and thinking about gifts. There is much care, thought and
personalization that goes into each gift that is chosen, selected specifically
for the intended recipient. Gifts are very personal; given to benefit one
person (not a crowd); and costly, requiring the giver to sacrifice time, effort
and money to secure a unique gift that will bring the recipient joy. Once a
gift is chosen, it is wrapped in tissue and carefully placed in a box that is often
wrapped in sparkling paper and adorned with a big, beautiful bow. Each gift is
labeled to ensure it is opened by the one for whom it was chosen. The gifts are
on display under the tree and anticipation grows as Christmas morning
approaches.
Sometimes you can look at
the wrapping and guess what treasure is hidden underneath, but the best gifts
are always the ones that come unexpected – out of nowhere.
And the angel
came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she
was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting
this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have
found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a
son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the
Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his
father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his
kingdom there will be no end.”
– Luke 1:28-33
– Luke 1:28-33
The perfect gift came to
Mary in the most unexpected way. The perfect gift was very personal...for Mary
and for each of us. The perfect gift was given to benefit every individual
person who would believe. The perfect gift was costly, requiring great
sacrifice. The perfect gift was wrapped in light. The perfect gift was not
placed under a tree, but was nailed to a tree. The perfect gift waits to be
received and when our hearts awaken to receive the gift, we find joy.
