I found this gem of a photo as I was scrolling through my phone recently (my sister can thank me later for sharing this gift with the rest of the world!). Judging by the year on the shirt I am wearing, it is circa 1983. I am probably in the fourth grade. I believe this is Christmas Eve that year when our parents let me and my sister open our gifts from each other along with a few gifts from them before Santa was to come the next day. I have no idea what is in the gift boxes that are sitting on the coffee table in front of me but by the look on my face, I am super excited (I think?!?) to find out what they are. Maybe a Transformer... maybe some G.I. Joe stuff... maybe some underwear because that's what every fourth grader really wants anyway. My sister, on the other hand, looks VERY excited to tear into her packages as I'm sure she is certain there is some Strawberry Shortcake "something" in there... somewhere! I wish I still had my Christmas list from that year - or the Sears & Roebuck Wish Book that we used to circle and tag. I wonder where those gifts are today.
I don't remember what I asked for. I don't remember what I received. I certainly don't know where any of those gifts are today but I know I was excited in the moment to tear off the wrapping paper and see what was in the box. This got me thinking... Over the years, what was the best gift I ever received? Do I even remember??? What was the worst gift I received? Could I ever forget??? And now, after 43 years of Christmases, what are the gifts that I didn't ask for (and didn't want in the moment) but now, wouldn't trade for anything? Did I see those things as gifts in the moment or did I try and wish them away because they were ugly... or painful... or nothing like what I thought I wanted. And now that I know they were gifts, did this recognition change the way I react or respond to seemingly undesirable things today - or do I still want to exchange them for something different or better or more my "style"?
The best gifts really aren't things that we can wear or use or show off on display. They aren't gadgets or widgets or copper pots that make cleaning plastic off your cookwear a breeze (because who doesn't cook plastic in their copper pot? If you've seen the infomercial, you know what I'm talking about!). Some of the best gifts are the moments that change us... the experiences that shape us... the times when we get a glimpse of the bigger picture of this life and the next and what we are supposed to do in and with both. The best gift is the one that can be received and then re-gifted again and again and again. It doesn't require any special wrapping and it doesn't have to be given only in December. The best gift that you can receive is the gift of eternal life that has been freely given through Jesus. And if you've ever received this gift for yourself, you know it is too good of a gift not to share with others.
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Romans 6:23
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