Look In The Box

Christmastime is here! There’s snow (if you are fortunate) and Christmas trees laden with lights and decorations and carols, and presents and oh so much food! For so many of us this is a busy time with gatherings, concerts, parties, shopping and filled with frenetic activity to get ready for one event or another. It’s much the same in our house, but somehow, even in the midst of all the preparations, I usually find it a contemplative time and for the past several years, I have found a different theme emerges in my reflections. This year the recurring theme that has captured my attention is the meaning behind the gifts we give.

Ahhhh…Christmas presents. Every morning as we draw closer to Christmas, I am greeted with the same question. “Mom…how come there aren’t any presents under the tree yet?” And every morning, I have to give the same response. I will put them out on Christmas Eve. Not a moment sooner. Because I know that no matter how honestly and angelically they tell me that they won’t touch them, eventually the enticement of those mystery boxes will get the better of my two little curious, rambunctious boys and they will just need to “check the presents”, to “make sure they are still OK”, of course.

If you ask my boys, they will tell you that presents are the best part of Christmas and they can’t wait to tear into their gifts with the pure joy and abandon that children so easily express. I completely understand their excitement. I mean, who doesn’t love a good gift or look forward to opening surprises from someone we love? And who are we kidding?  Most of us adults have similar “gift checking” ideas. There’s the “shakers” – the ones who wait until they think no one is watching and give the box a good rattle. Then there are the “guessers” – these are the ones who start critically assessing the shape and size of each gift and trying to guess what is inside. Or the “pretenders” – those are the ones who were up late the night before and already un-wrapped all their gifts and re-wrapped them, then act so surprised when they open them on Christmas Day.  Or, there are the “avoiders” – like me – who refuse to look at the gifts at all because they love the surprise and don’t want to risk guessing what is inside. Oh, but then comes Christmas morning! Then all restraint is thrown aside and before you know it the remnants of ribbon and paper are filling the air with the exclamations of delight.

While presents are definitely a part of our celebration, Christmas can be so quickly buried in consumerism that we miss the Gift that is the reason for our gift-giving season – Jesus. At their young age, it’s easy to forget why we celebrate, so, every evening during the month of December we take some time with our children to focus on the most important Gift. This Gift came in a box of wood and was nestled in hay. This Gift was the greatest gift ever given in the history of man and yet, the most taken for granted. Lately I have had to ask myself why, with this most wonderful gift imaginable, do we hesitate to “look in the box”? This Gift came not only as the Savior of the whole world, but as the Answer – the “I AM” – personally addressed to each of us.

What a breathtaking thought that is! Especially, as we come to the end of the year and prepare to greet the new one. Life doesn’t stop just because it’s Christmas. The stresses and anxieties and burdens we carry don’t magically disappear because it’s Christmas. Sometimes they cloud our view steal the Wonder of Christmas from us. Sometimes they just get buried or shuffled to the side in the hubbub, but they remain demanding our attention the moment we slow down to breathe. I know I have said it before, but the concept of Emmanuel – that God meets with us right here in our stuff – and understands what it means to walk in our shoes, just leaves me in awe. I often reflect on that thought and this year, I realize the more we delve into the gift of Emmanuel –the deeper the box gets.

On that first Christmas, God the Father gave us the greatest gift. And in giving us the gift of Christ, He invited us to be a part of the greatest gift exchange ever. Think about it – He gave us Life, in exchange for death. And Life that was full and abundant (John 10:10). He gave us restoration in exchange for separation. Hope for despair. Luke 4:18 expands on this and tells us that He came to bring good news to the afflicted, to heal the broken-hearted and wounded, to proclaim freedom to the captives and to give sight to those who are blind. He came to sit at the table of the outcast, to lift up the head of the ashamed, to comfort the grieving heart, to sit in the dirt with the downtrodden and forgotten and offer healing and hope. To show us that no matter who we are or how messy, or confusing, or burdened our lives become He came for us and will bring Light into our Darkness, if we will allow Him to.

So the question we must ask ourselves is – what do we have to exchange? The truth is that we all carry something. There are things that keep us from entering in to the Peace, Hope and Joy of Christmas. In this season, Christ invites us to a gift exchange. You may think that to bring a burden is not a gift at all, but the gift that we give is in our surrender. In our trust. Psalm 55:22 says to “Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you”. Where do you need Emmanuel to meet with you?

For what has turned to ashes, He will give you Beauty.

For mourning and grief, He will give you Joy.

For the heaviness that weighs you down, He will uplift you with Praise.

Are you in need of healing? He is the Healer.

Has the darkness overtaken you? He said “I am the Light of the world!”

Is your mind filled with unrest? He is the Prince of Peace.

Are you thirsty and dry? He is the Living Water and a Refresher of souls.

Do you need strength? Isaiah 40:31 says “Those who wait on the Lord, will renew their strength.

In Matthew 12:28, Jesus says “Come to me, all you who are weary and heavily burdened, and I will give you rest.” Come to Me. The invitation is to all of us. Jesus invites us to come, just as we are in our joy and our brokenness, and experience the Gift of Immanuel.

Go ahead…Look in the box.

For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6 (NKJV)