Have you ever been presented with a gift, so beautifully wrapped that you do not want to open it? Sounds silly, doesn’t it. But, the truth is, a gift only becomes a gift when you choose to receive it.

Think about the best gift you have ever been given. It may have had great material value, or possibly it had none at all.

I remember one Christmas when I was only 13 years old. I had asked for a stereo of my own that year. For those of you reading this and asking yourselves, what is she talking about? You are more than likely under the age of 40! A stereo was a turntable that played records and had two speakers. I thought that turning 13 (after all I had just turned 13, twenty days before Christmas), made me a “Big Kid Now,” and I needed a stereo of my own.

I knew my parents had always struggled financially, and this year was no exception, but I had asked for a stereo anyway. Christmas morning came and my three sisters and I ran to the tree. We opened the lovely presents underneath and when we finished there was a small sense of sadness that ran through me. I didn’t want it to be there, and I was sorry that it was there. But nonetheless, it was there. That feeling of disappointment and let down. I do not know if my parents could see it on my face or not. I tried to hide it and show my appreciation for what I had received, but it was still there. It nagged at me and made me feel guilty. All of sudden my dad looked at me and called my name, “Lisa Kay”, he said, “did you get everything you wanted?” I looked up at him and answered, “Yes, thank you.”

I imagine there was a bit of a catch in my throat as I uttered the words that did not hold complete truth. He told me to look behind the couch. I did, and there was my stereo box! It was the most beautiful gift I had ever seen. I just stood and stared and then started to cry. My Dad said, “if you don’t open it, you will never know what’s inside.”

I loved that stereo, and played it long into my twenties. I loved getting new albums and listening to them over and over. I have never been more surprised by a gift before, and never have I learned a more valuable lesson.

A gift is only a gift if we open it and receive it. Otherwise, it is simply a package. It may be exquisitely wrapped in the finest of papers and adorned with the perfect ribbon or bow, but unopened, it remains simply a package.

Truth Bomb

A gift is simply a package if we do not open it and receive it.

It’s December, and more than likely you will be presented with a gift or two. They may be beautifully wrapped, but unless you open it and receive it, it will simply be a pretty package.

At one VERY special birthday party, three gifts were given. The first gift was GOLD.

“The star they had seen in the East guided them, (the wise men), to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. When  they saw the star they were filled with joy! They entered the house, and saw the child with His mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped Him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave gifts of gold….”                                     Matthew 2:9-11

Gold is a valuable, precious yellow metallic element that is not subject to oxidation or corrosion.

I love that the first gift given to The King of Kings, was given by an earthly King, and it had great value, but even greater was it’s ability to not turn or corrode. I also love that we are told that the Wise Man had to OPEN his treasure chest and take the gift out to give it away!

This reminds me, that I can give a gift to my King Jesus by opening up my time and commitment to love and serve Him no matter what. By giving Him myself and not allowing anything to get in the way to discolor my love for Him or corrode the time I spend with Him.

This is my gift of Gold to my King Jesus!

I look forward to this wonderful Season of giving and receiving that we are entering. I pray that we open ourselves up to both giving and receiving.

After all, It Is “The Most Wonderful Time of The Year!”

Speak Truth Love