It is definitely the time of year to think about giving gifts! I don't know about you, but as a parent, I get far more excitement out of giving my children gifts than I could ever experience in getting them. I spend months in advance carefully listening for clues of what they might be hoping for, watching in stores for ideas of something they might like and then secretly tucking items away until that special morning. In our family, we only give two gifts per child; one from mom and dad, and the other from the sibling who drew their name in a draw. This has helped us keep the day balanced in remembering Jesus really is the true meaning of Christmas, while still savouring the joy of receiving and giving gifts - it also means we put great effort into choosing just the right gift.
I was reminded this week, as I wrapped presents and thought hopefully towards our children opening them, that God is the greatest giver. In fact, when it comes to giving gifts - He refers to us as evil in comparison to how well He gives gifts. Now before you take offense - think about that - He is trying to show how abundantly better He chooses and wraps up presents in life for you and me, than we ever could. When it comes to unwrapping the wrapping paper of life, we are blessed by a God who loves to give! Matthew 7:9-11 tries to paint a picture of this for us, when it says, "Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!"
I know that some of us may be pre-programmed to think that this must be speaking to wealth and prosperity, but don't shut it down so fast. This is God's Word and we need to read it for what it says - God is our parent, and the Bible tells us over and over that He loves to give gifts; it also says that He gives good gifts when we ASK Him. This puts the responsibility back on us, doesn't it? When we open the wrapping paper of life, are we expecting nothing from God? Something chintzy because we are not really thinking He is listening? Or do we understand the magnitude of which our Father God loves and cares for us, and do we comprehend that He wants to do this for us? If our children didn't think we cared, would they bother asking for anything? Probably not - but when they know how much we love them and that we want to have presents under the tree for them, do you not find you hear more than a few suggestions of what they would really love to have?
Once we have asked, then it is Father God who makes the final decisions. Do you remember in a previous post that I shared I needed to make a tough decision on a toy that my son wanted but I knew would not last him? I had to choose to do something else, even though that is what he thought he wanted - I am absolutely sure he will love what has been done in place of that even more. Similarily, I believe that is the way God chooses to work - He may know of something even better for us than what we have asked for, but we can be assurred that it will be GOOD and it will be for our BEST!
Pour our your heart to God today, and each day - share with Him your longing and desires for what you need and want! And most importantly, let it flow from your love for your Father God who loves you perfectly. Trust Him - we are not submitting a wish list to a Santa in the sky; this is our Creator God, who knows us intimately, loves us completely and longs to give us what is best. It flows out of a relationship with the one who loves us most!
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