On the bookcase, where I can see it every day, is a little red box with a tiny blue bow.
A couple of years ago, my granddaughter gave me this little box at Christmas. She was so proud of herself as she told me that she had made it the week before in Sunday School. I opened it and inside, folded up and pushed into the box was a sheet of paper. On that paper was the story of Salvation and the verses-
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:16-17
The Gift. Wrapped in human form. Sent from Heaven to earth. Arrival announced by a great choir of angels. Whose presence graced the lowest, meanest place on the earth.
What happened at that moment was the giving of THE GIFT; the one Gift given by the Giver who knew exactly the right Gift to give.
The Gift of exchange-One life for all others.
It’s the only Gift that matters, the Gift that came to each of us is for each of us.
When we give gifts to each other at Christmas, it represents the first gifts given to Him by the wise men.
Matthew tells us that they followed the star until it stopped where Jesus was and “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”.(2:10-11)
How do we keep the meaning of giving from getting lost in the shuffle of wrapping paper and tape? The wise men gave their treasure. The only treasure we have to give to Him is ourselves.
And, really? There’s nothing else that He wants.
The best part is that I didn’t have to wait till Christmas to give that gift to Him or to take the Gift He’s given me.
Neither do you.