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Unwrapped Presents

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It is said that good things come in small packages. I’m not sure about the validity of that statement, but I do know that the best gifts are the ones that I call “unwrapped presents”. I’m referring to presents that can’t be gift wrapped and put under a Christmas tree.

After my youngest son graduated from high school, he decided to join the Air Force. Elijah was stationed miles from home, so for Christmas he planned to celebrate with us by telephone. The family was gathered around the tree in the living room when he called, but as I was talking with him the doorbell rang. A little perturbed, I questioned who would be coming to see us on Christmas morning! I kept talking on the phone to Elijah as I went to answer the door and was shocked to find myself talking to him face to face! He had called us from our front porch and surprised us all by coming home! I don’t remember anything else I got for Christmas that year, but I do remember that my son came home. It was the best present I received!

One year my other son, Greg, wrapped up a litter box and gave it to me for Christmas. I wept when I realized what it was. The gift wasn’t the litter box. It was the kitten that would be coming later. But to me the gift went even beyond that. I realized that this was not just a gift from my son, but it included my husband’s approval as well, because he did not like cats. (Or so he claimed.) This gift from my son was also a gift of my husband’s love for me. His love could not be wrapped up as a present, but I was totally aware of the ‘unwrapped present’ that he was giving me that Christmas morning.

But the best unwrapped present I ever received was a gift from God. The Bible calls it an “indescribable gift.” God’s gift came naked into this world and died naked on the cross. It can’t be bought or boxed up with a pretty bow on top, because “the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) This is not the kind of gift that we grasp with our hands, but rather we receive it with our heart. God offers His gift to us with love. He gives it to us with grace and mercy when we accept it by faith. “For by grace you have been saved through faith…it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:8) And here’s the exciting part! He offers this gift to everyone! It’s yours if you want it.

God’s gift doesn’t come in a pretty package. It can’t be seen or handled or opened, but God’s ‘unwrapped present’ is the best gift you will ever receive! Have you accepted the gift that God has for you?

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
–John 3:16

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Christmas Movies & Superlatives

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A new Christmas movie was released this year titled, “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.” I haven’t seen the movie, but I have read the book and I’m familiar with the story. The movie centers around the Herdman siblings and their surprising involvement with a church Christmas pageant. A synopsis of the movie explains it this way: The Herdman kids are absolutely the worst. They lie. They steal. They bully…and they’ve hijacked the town Christmas pageant...[They] sneak into church looking for snacks and walk away with the lead roles in the town pageant. And so it appears the program will be ruined! But in spite of (or maybe because of) their unorthodox and unusual presentation the pageant is actually deemed the best Christmas pageant ever!

The phrase “best ever” is a superlative. It expresses the highest degree possible. Superlative adjectives are used to describe something of the highest (or lowest) quality. I remember my mother sharing this little rhyme with me, “Good, better, best. Never let it rest. Until your good is better, and your better best.” Best is the superlative. That’s as good as it gets!

Advertisers and public figures, such as politicians and athletes, are prone to use superlatives declaring they are the best, the greatest, the wisest, and the smartest. But when superlatives are overused they become hyperboles and meaningless. In the Christmas movie Elf, there’s a comical scene that illustrates this very well. When Buddy the Elf discovers that he was adopted as a baby and is not really an elf at all, he travels to New York City in search of his birth father. As he explores the city, he sees a small, nondescript diner with a sign in the window that reads: World’s Best Cup of Coffee. Buddy is ecstatic. He bursts into the restaurant yelling, “Congratulations! You did it!” In his simplistic view, he has no idea that it is merely an advertising gimmick. It is meaningless.

Was the Christmas pageant in the movie really the “best Christmas pageant ever”? Probably not. But I am reminded of an older movie considered a classic called, “The Greatest Story Ever Told.” Is this even possible? What story could possibly be the greatest? There is one! And it begins with the Christmas story! What God has done for us through the birth and life and death of His only begotten Son is indeed the greatest story ever told!

In Scripture, God is often acknowledged as the Most High God, declaring Him to be the Supreme Being over all. And yet it is difficult to use superlatives to describe who God is, because there is no one or anything to compare Him with. He alone is God! God Himself asks in Isaiah 40:25: To whom will you compare me? Who is my equal? and later He declares I am the Lord and there is no other; there is no God besides me. And when we think of what He has done for us and the blessings He gives us, we are often at a loss for words, because as David expresses in Psalm 139:6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand. Nothing in this world compares with what God has done for us! We are given, according to the Bible, “indescribable joy”, “peace which surpasses all understanding”, and “exceeding grace”. Because of Him, we can “abound with hope” and “overflow with confidence”! And so we ponder the thought, Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us that we should be called children of God. (1John 3:1) It’s a love we can experience, but will never completely understand. There’s an abundance to God and His love for us that is greater than any superlative can express!

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
–2 Corinthians 9:15

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Believe!

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I am the recipient of another new mug. This one is rather ordinary and plain, but it is decked out for the holidays! Wrapped in a white knitted cozy, it is especially cute because it has a miniature red plaid scarf wrapped around it as well. The mug holds a transparent Christmas ball ornament that actually has a hot chocolate mix inside of it. One word is written on the decoration: BELIEVE!

It’s become quite common to encourage people to believe. The object of that belief can vary, but often the injunction to believe is focused on believing in yourself. I live in western New York which is Buffalo Bills territory. So around here we are encouraged to “Billieve!” It’s a play on words that urges us to believe in our football team. (And that’s not always easy!)

Urging people to believe has also become a popular part of celebrating Christmas. We see it in the holiday decorations and on our Christmas cards. It is often a theme in Christmas music, movies and commercials. A few years ago when I was watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade on TV, I noticed the decorations Macy’s had on their store. Hanging on the side of the building in huge letters was that one word: BELIEVE.

What is it that we are to believe in at Christmas? Children, of course, are often encouraged to believe in Santa Claus. Adults, on the other hand, are admonished to believe in the Christmas spirit or the goodness of humanity or the positive vibes of the season. But all these things are not worthy of our belief. This kind of believing leads only to disappointment.

I do, however, want to encourage you to believe! Not in some nebulous, feel good concept, but in the One who was born in a stable. Jesus often gets neglected and forgotten during the holiday season, but He is the who and the why of our Christmas day! Believing in Him has eternal rewards!

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.
–John 3:16

For the Scripture says,
‘Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed’.
  –Romans 10:11

Jesus Himself exhorts you to believe for in John 14:1 He declares, “Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.”

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Thanks for the Memories

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It was two years ago that my husband suddenly passed away. Thanksgiving was the last holiday we celebrated together. He died four days later.

Even though it’s been two years, caring people still ask me how I am doing. I usually answer with “I’m good. I’m doing okay.” And I am. But deep down inside there is still that hurt, that loss, that grief. At my recent medical check up, my physician asked me, in regards to my husband’s death, how I was doing and I gave him my standard response, “I’m okay.” And then I added, “But I am still grieving.” He gave me a knowing smile and said, “You always will.” Perhaps not the most encouraging thing to hear, but in a sense it was. It made me realize two important things. First of all, I am normal in my grief. Two years isn’t too long to grieve. And, secondly, I don’t have to get over it! I can go on living, even enjoying my life, and still have a place in my heart for the loss I feel.

Thanksgiving is a little different for me now. I have always enjoyed this holiday squeezed between Halloween and Christmas. It comes with a big meal and the family gathered around the table. But there’s less pressure with this holiday as opposed to Christmas and if celebrated correctly the focus is one of gratitude and appreciation. It lends itself to praising God for His faithfulness. Now, however, Thanksgiving is tinged with a touch of sadness as I recall my last Thanksgiving with Paul. But those memories have become precious to me.

I will never forget the sound of his laughter as we sat at the table with the family, enjoying the meal our children had prepared. How he loved the creamed onions and those garlic stuffed olives!

I remember sharing the lists we had made of what we were thankful for. Most of his list involved family members and we joked with him about including his two sons-in-law on the list! We kept the list he had made as a tangible reminder of his last Thanksgiving with us. Another sweet and special memory from that day is him sitting on the couch with one granddaughter at his side watching a kids’ animated movie while our youngest granddaughter, not quite a year old, played contentedly at his feet. It was the last time he saw them.

I have a cousin whose circumstances are similar to mine. She too was a pastor’s wife who lost her husband suddenly and unexpectedly, and she also still grieves. Recently she posted some pictures from their past on Facebook and she made this comment: “Memories keep getting more valuable.” I know what she means.

I have a treasure trove of memories. From that lingering handshake when we first met to that unsuspecting final kiss, each memory is precious to me. Not all the memories are happy ones, but each one is a treasure. Memories play an active role in grief. They have a dual role, sometimes causing pain and yet giving comfort. Paul impacted my life with his love and leadership, and the memories I have are his imprints on my heart. I am so thankful for them!

As I celebrate Thanksgiving this year and express gratitude for my many blessings, I will also be giving thanks for the memories! Below is the last picture I have of my husband. Taken a month before he passed away, it is my final visual memory of him. But what a happy one it is!

I thank my God upon every remembrance of you.
–Philippians 1:3

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