The Pleasure of Gifts

Right now, my bed is covered with bows and ribbons and bright colored Christmas paper and an assortment of gifts waiting to be wrapped.  I love giving presents.  Oh, the anticipation of seeing someone’s face light up when unwrapping that perfect gift, the one he or she has been hoping for; the one that really means something. The smile, the sparkling eyes, the obvious pleasure on the face makes my pleasure complete.

I imagine that’s how it is with our Heavenly Father.  He delights in giving us gifts, too.  We all know His greatest gift to us was Jesus, but I’m talking about something else here. I’m talking about those personal gifts to us, the ones He takes great pains to select, to wrap, and then to reveal at just the right time: that healing touch, that deposit of peace in the midst of a storm, that scripture that speaks to the heart, sending that needed person at just the right time, that unexpected baby after a couple has tried unsuccessfully for years, that job opportunity at the most unlikely place, that . . .

It’s hard for me to watch TV this time of year. Nearly every channel has a “Santa” story showing a big hearted, all-knowing personality that just delights in giving gifts.  I know many enjoy this type of entertainment, but I can’t help but feel sad that this fake figure is so revered, and that so much energy goes into perpetuating his myth, when all along we have Someone who truly delights in showering us, His children, with gifts; Someone whose heart swells with joy and delight at the prospect of blessing us, and not with gifts that eventually break or are forgotten in some dusty closet, either, but with gifts that help us live fuller lives, gifts that many times have eternal value.

Oh, what a wonderful, generous God we serve!  And what pleasure He takes in us.  It’s only fitting that we take the same pleasure in Him.

Until next week,

Sylvia