"The Perfect Christmas Present"
by Lucinda Secrest McDowell
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There
is one Christmas Day incident from years ago
that I'd rather forget. At least I'm ashamed at the
immature and self-centered way I handled it.
You see, after much thought and sacrificial financial
investment, I gave someone what I believed to be the
Perfect Christmas Present.
And
they didn't like it.
Well,
at least they didn't respond in the glowing
appreciative manner I had envisioned. In my
disappointment I'm afraid I sulked, hosted a self-pity
party and vowed to give that person just a brown paper bag
next year. "Who needs gift giving, anyway?" I muttered.
Who
indeed?
God,
the One who started the whole thing, after all,
by sending His only Son as a Gift to us at Christmas,
decided to teach me a few things. He reminded me that
the very essence of a gift is that the giver wants to
bestow it on someone with no strings attached. No
promise to use it or wear it or play it; no reciprocal
gift; and no obligatory thank you note of appreciation.
In
other words, it's FREE!
Can
I truly give like that this Christmas?
Can
you?
The
good news is that while our gift giving shouldn't
be contingent on a favorable response or appreciation,
much of the time people do express their thanks. But
that's just the icing on the cake. John 3.16 reminds us
that "God loved us so much that He gave His Son."
James 3.17 says that "every good and perfect gift is
from above."
Rather
than focusing on whether or not others have
thanked us for our gifts, maybe it's time to do a personal
spiritual inventory. What are some of the gifts I've
received from God this year? Have I thanked Him
lately?He didn't give because He expects or needs
my appreciation. He gave because HE LOVES ME!
I
think I'll thank Him anyway.
"Thanks be to God for His indescribable Gift." II Corinthians 9.15
copyright 2001 Lucinda Secrest McDowell
copyright 2002 Lucinda Secrest McDowell ~ All Rights
Reserved
