Weird Christmas Gifts

What do you with those weird Christmas gifts that people give you? Like me, you probably hide them on a closet shelf and pull them out only if the giver comes to visit. Like the blinking wreath that had yellow and orange lights - hardly Chirstmas colors! Or the guy who got a jar of Peg Leg Oil for Christmas. He did not even have a peg leg! What's the point? Once I was given a bar of soap on a rope from a youth in my church. She would ask me almost every Sunday if I liked it. Was a little lie to her ok? Or the woman that always gave me a store-bought fruit cake. The first year I opened it and it was as dry and tasteless as sand paper! And the ties...I have been given ties with little horses, ones with wild colors, extremely wide ones and ones with goofy Christmas scenes or those that play musical tunes. Ugh!!

The world's first Christmas gift probably was seen as out of place or strange. A baby born in a manger... Hardly a place for the King of Kings. He came in mystery, was heralded by angels, greeted by shepherds and wise men brought him extremely valuable gifts. These first visitors understood the depth of the gift. Judah Smith reminds us that this gift put a face on God's grace. Children recognized the precious nature of this gift and love to be in his presence. The broken and hurting were drawn to this gift of real life.

What will you do this year with this unusual gift? How you respond determines your understanding and experience of the God who wants to give us abundant life.