Contentment
“I already have one,” our granddaughter stated when her dad attempted to pass her a second gift. Instead of taking it, she remained intently focused on her first present—the longed-for doll she had just unwrapped. Completely satisfied.
It was Christmas morning and presents spilled out from under the beautifully lit tree. Our granddaughter’s innocent, two-year-old reply gave me pause. Did she not expect any more presents?
In the flurry of baking, shopping for exactly the right gifts for each one, decorating every room with holiday cheer, how easy it is to miss the importance and significance of this day, the celebration of the divine Gift.
Rarely do we see unwrapped gifts on a shelf come the new year. Ripping away the tinsel, Scotch tape, and fancy wrap, we eagerly peek inside beyond the trimmings to discover the giver’s choice of a perfect gift.
Could I be content with what God gave to me when He sent Jesus? Let’s unwrap just a few of the gifts sent from heaven through the Perfect Gift—for you, for me.
Hope. Since the Garden of Eden, man had been separated from God because of choosing to do things his own way.
And the Word (Jesus) became flesh and moved into the neighbourhood.
He was fully God, fully man. He knows our every need, our temptations, our failures.
The hope He brings is forgiveness for all our sins and a promise that this life is not the complete story. He brought us life here and life eternal, forever with Him. It’s a gift, already given.
Peace. When Jesus was ready to leave this earth, He comforted the disciples with these words: John 14:27: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."
Another life-altering gift. His coming did not bring immediate peace to the earth, but His coming brought the answer to the deep longing for peace in my heart, until He comes to reign in peace.
Love. Love came down at Christmas. Because of His great love and desire to restore us back to His Father, He was willing to leave the glory of Heaven and humble Himself to take the form of an infant. Without His journey to the cross thirty- three years later, His coming as a baby would have been simply a story. Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension to Heaven paved the way for Him to prepare a beautiful place for us to live forever with Him. Such a marvellous gift of love.
Joy. No amount of presents or material possessions will ever fill the emptiness of my life without the Life-giver. Sweet hymns of joy in grateful Chorus raise we; Let all within us praise his Holy name!
The Joy-giver was Himself a gift to the world, to each of us.
While the world was in chaos and the Israelites were looking for a king to free them from Rome’s tyranny, a baby was born and laid in a manger, built not as a cradle but as an animal feeding trough. Unmet expectations. What could a baby do to solve the world crisis? Many missed the truth He brought, but the wise men knew something others did not. He was born a King. Born to die.
We already have everything we need to live a life of hope, love, peace, and joy. So, let’s get busy unwrapping all we have been given.
