INSPIRASUNS

Last night after dinner my husband and I spent time wrapping some gifts. Usually, after we’ve brought home packages, I go through and sort out the purchases by who they are going to. You know you look to make sure when gifts are being opened, it’s “equitable”. I know I’m not alone in this thinking, and last night as I was wrapping all I could do was wonder, how in the world did we get to this point.

Over the past few days, I’ve been really thinking about special gifts to give, those that have meaning and will be keepsakes. Yes, we have the lists that kids and grandkids have made, but in some ways, they seem forced and something this year feels different. I’m not looking to buy and item just because it’s on a list and just to make sure someone has a package to open equitably on Christmas morn.

When I look back at the first Christmas I started thinking about the gifts the baby Jesus received from the wise men. Three gifts, gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Yes, we’re familiar with the story that they brought these gifts, but I’ve wondered why these three items. Well, this morning I researched and discovered what they mean or meant back then. Gold of course was and is a precious metal and very valuable. The gift of gold to the Christ child was symbolic of His divinity – God in Flesh. Frankincense is a white resin or gum. It’s collected from a tree by making incisions in the bark and allowing the gum to flow out. The gift of frankincense to the Christ child was symbolic of His willingness to become a sacrifice, wholly giving Himself up. Lastly the myrrh. This was obtained from a tree in the same manner as frankincense. It was a spice and was used in embalming. The baby Jesus would grow to suffer greatly as a man and would pay the ultimate price when He gave His life on the cross for all who would believe in him. Simple but precious gifts with clear meaning.

So, I’m on a quest for the next several weeks to deliver gifts on Christmas that will have special meaning. And…at the end of the day, it’s not how many, it’s WHAT is opened on Christmas morn. We need to get back to the true meaning of Christmas and be thankful for the most precious gifts we already have; family, friends, and most importantly the gift of a babe born in a manger, who gave EVERYTHING for us.

Have a wonderful day friends 🙂

John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave is only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.