The Christmas Gift
2 Corinthians
9:15 - Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! (NIV)
"I can't wait until you see Melody [not her real name] open
the present I bought her for Christmas," our friend said.
Melody was an only child, and planning for Christmas was an
exciting event in my friend's home. On Christmas Eve,
several people from our neighbourhood, who couldn't make it
home to see their own families, gathered around our
Christmas tree to celebrate together. After telling the
story of the first Christmas, and singing a number of
carols, each child was allowed to open the gift their
parents had placed under the tree earlier in the day.
Melody's parents put a brightly wrapped parcel in her lap,
and waited anxiously for the toddler to open their carefully
chosen gift. "Open it, Melody," her father urged, as he
helped her pull the tape off the wrapping paper. Melody
turned the package over slowly, and picked at the paper.
"Hurry," her father urged again and again. She hugged the
parcel close to her body but made no further attempt to
unwrap it. The father couldn't contain his excitement any
longer, so he pulled the colourful clown out of its box, and
handed it to his daughter. Melody, ignoring the gift, turned
to pick up the scraps of coloured paper and the empty box. A
look of disappointment crossed her father's face. The gift
so lovingly given had been rejected.
I wonder how God feels when we, like Melody, reject His
priceless gift. Sadly, many of us are more content to play
with the packaging of the season than to accept the gift of
salvation made possible through God's one and only son,
Jesus Christ.
Prayer: Dear God, remind us that the brightly coloured
packaging that the world has wrapped around this holy season
is empty and without meaning. Help us to accept your gift,
Jesus Christ, with grateful hearts. Amen.
By Elaine Ingalls Hogg, Smiths Creek, New Brunswick, Canada, Assistant
Submissions Editor for the "Daily", Copyright 2003. Reprinted by permission.
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