I wrapped the last of the gifts today. There’s always a bit of “Whew, done!”, along with great anticipation for the day when the wait is over and the gifts are opened and enjoyed!

I wonder if God, even in the slightest, felt that way. When Jesus was wrapped in swaddling cloths, did He have that spirit of anticipation? That, “Oh I cannot wait for them to see this!” feeling. I think maybe so. 

When the gift is wrapped, there in our midst for all to see, but still unrevealed there is so much curiosity and anticipation as we gaze upon it. Even hopeful expectation of what it will be!
The people around Jesus certainly had that hopeful curiosity as He walked this earth. Day by day, that excitement growing; wondering when the time would be right to God to reveal everything to everyone.

When that much anticipate day came, they did not realize the revelation would require a ripping and tearing of His outer flesh to bring to light this wonderful gift given for everyone. For a moment, in the middle of their shock, they lost sight of the gift and all they saw was the “Christmas morning mess”. The shredded wrapping and mutilated package. For a while, that is all they focused on. The disappointment of the mess. But there is a process of receiving this gift. The very thing that gave beauty and hope, the wrapping, must be worked through, destroyed, to extract and bring forth the true gift inside. 

And then, we look up. Away from the mess created in unwrapping, up to the Gift. There in His glory, revealed. Maybe it’s what we hoped for, maybe it’s not what we expected. But as we reach out and take hold of this beautiful Gift, we see that He truly is everything we hoped for, and more! And our joy overflows! As does the joy of the Giver! 

Jesus is the Gift that we can never lose. Always with us. Always exactly what we need. We never outgrow it. As the seasons of our lives change, He remains the same – forever exactly what we longed for and needed.
“Thanks be to God for His indescribable Gift.”
2 Corinthians 9:15

So this week, as we see the gifts under the tree, gaze through the mess at the joy on our loved ones’ faces, and treasure the ultimate gift of being together – because that truly was the ultimate goal of Jesus coming to earth, to make it possible for us to be together with God – remember: our most beautiful Gift wrapped, ripped, and given, just for you. 

~ Enjoy the Gift.