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Dec 23, 2022 06:00am

It’s a Wrap

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“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son…” – John 3:16 (MSG)

“If you can’t wrap Christmas gifts well, at least make it look like they put up a fight.” (unknown) Truly, the vivid bows, sparkly ribbon, colorful boxes, and rolls of paper are projected to have increased to 57 million metric tons of waste by year’s end. That requires a lot of tape; but let’s not forget that “Christmas is the day that holds all time together.”

To be clear, presentation matters, or better yet…the effort behind the presentation sends a billboard-sized hint, that can be so very attractive. (Ask any newly engaged bride.) Over the years, as an educator, I have received lots of “wrapped” gifts. Many originals included half-empty perfume bottles, weeds retrieved during recess, and a live cricket munching on a discarded lunch snack. Those precious gifts from the heart, those attempts to show affection, and those tiny hands raised to offer what they could give…were priceless. Yes, I always donned the perfume which got a bit layered and stout when I wore multiples on a given day! It did seem to help on bus duty when the mosquitos were in season.

What are you wrapping this Christmas? Gifting and presentation matter to God. How large is the sack you’re using to gift your time, or the length of the ribbon that is required to fit around your effort? God gifted us with His best. His idea of divine love was wrapped up in a person…Jesus! It wasn’t a last-minute gift on the clearance aisle to which he muttered to himself, “Good enough.” No, His gift was wrapped in sacrifice and tied with love. This Christmas season as we untie the ribbons on each blessing we are given, will we choose to wrap our hearts and minds around the Gospel? It’s definitely a regifting worth sharing…the love of Jesus, the acknowledgement of His virgin birth, His life, death, resurrection, and the difference it should make in the here and now, as well as eternally.

As we find ourselves wrapped up in the traditions of celebrating and avoiding as much fruitcake as possible (fruitcake is not my love language), let’s follow Christ’s example of giving peace, forgiveness, compassion, joy, humility, and sacrifice. No tape, tissue paper, or boxes required. Simply focus on the perfectly wrapped baby in the manger that has the whole word in His hands (you included). That’s a wrap!