I had to drop a few things off at my daughter’s yesterday. I mentioned that Suzy and I would come this weekend to drop of presents. Seven year old Frannie started to shake with excitement and shouted, “presents, presents!” I hope every reader has had the opportunity to enjoy watching little children dive into packages with reckless abandon. It is a sight to behold.
Advent is a time when we think about gifts and giving. We exchange gifts with friends and family, we give to those in need, and we celebrate God’s gift to us all. It is also time for each of us to pause for a moment and consider the gifts we have received over the year and throughout our lives. We don’t necessarily need to shout, “Thank you!” or write a thank-you note, but it is nice to spend a little time in remembrance.
Some gifts come with obligations, but other gifts do not. The biblical admonition to give anonymously is not good for chartable fundraising, but it has purity. Some gifts send a message, while others are unconditional. Gifts say as much about the giver as they do about the recipient. I could spend the day thinking about gifts and presents.
Spend a little bit of time in these coming days thinking about the gift of life itself. We tend to take this gift for granted until it is too late. Life comes in unique wrapping for us all, but what a present!
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