(Day 5) – For those that are new to this thread, the Unwrapping Christmas is a challenge that we have given to ourselves in which we will share new stories about Providence School of Arts as a way of “Rejoicing in the Lord always.” (Phil 4:4) Here’s day 5.
The Power of a Gift
I have really enjoyed writing this blog post series because it has caused me to reflect on gifts and what they are.
How many of us have found that our gifts have really lost some of its luster? Our gift giving comes with strings attached.
- We have gifts that are earned, “I worked so hard at work they gave me a bonus.”
- We have gifts that get, “Sarah just gave me a gift, I need to give her one in return.”
- We have gifts based on cultural standards, “Tommy just turned 16, it’s time to buy him a car.”
- We have gifts of strategic engagement, “If I see a homeless man wearing a black shirt, on a Thursday, and he is holding a McDonalds cup, I will give him a gift.”
- We have non-gift givers………………………
I say some these things to be slightly facetious, but to also make a point. Is it really a gift if there are these additional expectations associated with it?
[blockquote indent=”yes” ]For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God… Ephesians 2:8[/blockquote]
I love this verse during the holidays because it reminds us of what true gift giving is.
“This is not your own doing…” Eph 2:8
True “gifts” have no strings attached and are unearned. Let’s think about it, if we really practiced what we preached, all of our children would have coal in their stockings. LOL! Why? Remember that day your toddler missed his nap and had a meltdown in the grocery store? I’m sure we all have several stories about children we knew in the terrible 2’s, 3’s, 4’s, 20’s? And yet, there are still presents under the tree on Christmas morning.
God’s gift of Christ is the greatest reflection of a true gift not just because of the outcome, eternal ramifications, but because of the purity of the gift. Though we have had plenty of meltdowns of our own towards God, He still gave the precious gift of the Word made Flesh, Jesus Christ the son of God (John 1:14).
So today we reflect and rejoice in the greatest gift given to the world.
O Come let us Adore Him!
