Greatest Gift of All...

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…Matthew 2:11.

Which do you prefer…receiving gifts or giving gifts?

I think if we are completely honest, most of us love doing a little of both!

I love looking for the perfect gift for a special family member or friend!  I want to give them something that will truly bless them!

I love watching their face express pure delight and joy over the gift they have just received…it just blesses my heart!

A few years ago, I was taking a Wheel Throwing class and simply loved this new art I was learning!

I decided I would give the Mag 8 (a title we have given a group of ladies that love getting together and just doing life together) pottery pieces for Christmas that I had made in my class. 

I carefully worked on each piece, trying to create a beautiful piece of pottery for each of them!  I give careful consideration to the glaze I used on each piece…hoping each recipient would love what I had specifically chosen for them.

Now mind you, I was a beginner…and my pieces left much to the imagination!  But those dear ladies…my sisters in Christ…oooed and awwwed over each piece, making me feel as those I was a Master Potter!

They knew the love that had went into each piece and appreciated the thought behind the gift!  They were gracious receivers!

However, one of my family members…my dear husband…loves to give but has struggled with learning to receive!

When our children were young, he received an unexpected gift in the mail a few weeks before Christmas!  During that stage of our lives, he often walked into church each Sunday morning without a coat!

Obviously, someone had noticed this and decided that my husband needed a new winter coat!  Much to our surprise, he received a very warm, down jacket that year in the mail from an anonymous sender!

He wore that coat for many years and never forgot that unexpected surprise that particular Christmas!

To this day, we do not know who sent that special gift, but it taught my husband a valuable lesson that year…learning to graciously receive!

The act of presenting gifts to others started year ago.  Scripture says…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…Matthew 2:11.

Though he was just a baby, precious gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh were presented to Jesus over 2,000 years ago.

The Magi opened their treasures…desiring to give Jesus their very best!

And years later, Jesus gave us the greatest gift of all…the gift of eternal life! 

We merely have to accept this free gift…which allows us to spend all of eternity in heaven with our Heavenly Father!  God’s word states…If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved…Romans 10:9. 

I am so thankful that many years ago I asked Jesus Christ into my heart as my Lord and Savior!  Though I love giving treasured gifts to family and friends, I am so thankful for the gift of eternal life…knowing with assurance that I will spend eternity with my Heavenly Father!

In this season of giving…have you accepted the most precious gift of all?  Have you asked Jesus Christ into your heart as your Lord and Savior?  Oh, how I pray you have!

As you continue to prepare for Christmas this year…remember the true meaning of the season!  It began with a tiny baby wrapped in a manger…God’s greatest gift to each of us!

Dear Heavenly Father…thank you for this season of giving!  But as each of us carefully wrap presents in brightly colored paper…garnished with decorative bows…may we remember the greatest gift of all!