Scripture Reading: “But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart” (Luke 2:19).

 

 

 

            One year, during the weeks leading up to Christmas, my husband carefully selected three three-ring binders. He purchased specially treated plastic holders to go into the binders. Then he spent many hours sorting and arranging the stamps he had bought and saved over the previous several years and inserted them into the plastic holders and then clamped them into the binders. On Christmas Eve he presented them to our three children. Our sons, who are older, immediately knew the value of the gift they had been given. Our daughter, however, was not too impressed. We could tell by the way she glanced at her binder and murmured a less than heartfelt thank you that she did not appreciate what she held in her hands, then carelessly tossed onto her stack of other gifts. We realized we had some educating to do, or we ran the risk of her using those stamps to mail her letters! 

 

            While our kids realized the monetary sacrifice their dad made, I’m not sure they ever comprehended the thought and love that went into the gift he made. Of course, the gift of a stamp collection can’t compare with the gift our Heavenly Father gave in sending His Son, but a comparison can be drawn, nonetheless.

 

            Christmas comes and goes, and even though we spend time in church reading the Christmas story and singing the carols, do we comprehend the thought and love that went into God’s gift? Do we, like Mary, treasure these things and ponder them in our hearts? Do we, like the shepherds, tell the Good News that amazes all who hear it and appreciate it (Luke 2:17-18)? Are we content to let Jesus remain the unappreciated gift?

 

1. Read and ponder the Christmas story in Luke and in Matthew.

2. Make a list of people with whom you want to share the Good News so they might learn to appreciate God’s gift of His Son.

3. How do you show appreciation to God for His most indescribable gift?

 

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, I confess that I, too, am unappreciative. I confess that I take for granted Your great gift. I confess that I have lost the awe that I should have when pondering these things in my heart. I ask You to forgive me. I ask You to fill me with deep love and gratitude for Jesus and His gifts of forgiveness and eternal life. I ask You to give me joy that spills out of my life into the lives of others as I share the Good News of Jesus. In His name I pray. Amen.