Gift Wrapped
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle . . . Aaaargh!
 Sorry, I’m just feeling a bit Scrooge—you know, anti-Christmas—at the moment. It’s gift-buying time and every store is playing Jingle Bells. Is it me, or do others tire of the tune? I also object that I’m supposed to find a song about dashing through snow in a one-horse open sleigh meaningful while I swelter in summer heat.
Meanwhile, back at gift buying. Some people are easy to buy for. You know exactly what you’re going to get them. Some are so difficult that whatever you get is going to be wrong—that’s why chocolates were invented.
Then there’s Aunt Clara. It doesn’t matter what the gift is—it could be a left-handed tin opener, and she’s right handed—she adores it. As a child I once gave her a Polly Waffle bar for Christmas and she seemed as excited by it as the v ex (code for very expensive) coat Uncle Keith gave her.
She makes you feel special because you gave, not because of the gift. Of course, she may have garage sales for things like left-handed tin openers, but she’ll never tell you.
Not that anyone ever asks, but if they did I think I’d be one of those who would say that v ex in a gift would be OK. Porsche comes to mind. A yacht. Perhaps an overseas trip. (Are you reading this, Honey?)
I’m probably hard to buy for, but then I wonder what kind of gift you could get God. When you start thinking about a gift for God, you’re thinking about getting something for Someone who really does have everything. If He doesn’t, He can soon whip one up better than you can buy—anywhere.
Wait a moment! There is something God doesn’t have unless I give it to Him. Me!
Think about it. This is exactly what God is hanging out for. It isn’t the things I can give Him, but me that He wants (and you, too, of course).
You don’t even have to be gift wrapped. He’ll take you just as you are and be as happy as Aunt Clara—and He doesn’t reject anyone. There won’t be a garage sale.
One more thing. You don’t have to wait for Christmas for this kind of gift
giving.
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Bruce Manners (left) is senior pastor of
the Avondale College church.