Thursday, December 03, 2009

THE PERFECT GIFT

OK - we all go through it. There comes that period during the first couple of weeks in December (or even later for the "last minute" folks - and you all know who you are) when we are in search of the "perfect gift" - you know the one that when you see it you go "that is just perfect for____________."

I started thinking about this over the weekend while flipping through a ladies' magazine (Good Housekeeping - although apparently reading it faithfully for many years has certainly not fulfilled its title in MY house - but that is another story). There was an article about a mother who was "frantic" to find the perfect gift for her daughter - a three-story, condo dollhouse. And as happens at this time of year, it was sold out - everywhere. The e-Bay price was twice the store price, etc., etc. Her upset was that her daughter wasn't going to get her perfect gift.

And I found myself saying right out loud, "The perfect gift has already been given, and it doesn't cost you retail or double on e-Bay." You see, Jesus Christ is that perfect gift. He fills EVERY longing, EVERY need, EVERY desire - even the ones we don't even know we have. NO gift was, is or ever will be more perfect than His greatest gift to us - His life for our sins. And if that weren't enough, He continues to bless, cheer, encourage, heal, bring joy and peace and the list goes on and on. All of the things that the world thinks is important, holds dear and searches for year after year - it is already part of the same package.

So, as you begin to stress out or become anxious about disappointing someone this Christmas because you can't find the perfect gift, remind yourself that you do have the perfect gift to give - share the story of that blessed night over 2000 years ago when Christ came to earth as the perfect gift to each of us who will say "Thank you for your gift to me. I receive it with all my heart."

Eph. 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God...

Lynn Randall

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