The Gift

I have said it before, but it bears repeating, motherhood has done crazy things to my perspective and my emotions. Yesterday afternoon I was in Toys R Us looking for a thing or two for the children. As I searched for a specific item, anticipating what P's response would be to receiving it, I thought about the dozens of other parents in the store doing the same thing. For a brief moment I almost understood the crazy news reports you invariably see this time of year of parents going to extremes to get "the" gift their children want. Love motivates people to give.

It made me tear up a little. (Crying in Toys R Us, the mecca of Christmas consumerism: I warned you I am little crazy.) I was reminded of Jesus' words in the following passage:

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" Matthew 7:7-11

I am not preaching a prosperity gospel. The truth is, sometimes His gifts are not what we asked for, but rather what we need. Sometimes we are disappointed. Sometimes it hurts to receive them. And sometimes the gifts are "immeasurably more than all we could ever ask for or imagine." (Ephesian 3:20)

As you get caught up in the Spirit of Giving this Christmas, remember that the joy you feel in giving is but a glimpse of the joy our Father in Heaven must feel as He gives to us. And unlike the gifts we give one another, His are lasting and eternal.

I can almost picture Him as He sent the angel to tell Mary about the gift He was sending, or the angel to the shepherds, or as He placed the star in the sky to guide them to The Gift He had planned.

Thank you, Father. Your gift was perfect. We receive it. We praise You for Him.