The Right Gift

Recently, a "Husband Shopping Center" opened in Dallas, Texas, where women could choose a husband among many men.  It was laid out with five floors with the men increasing in positive attributes as you ascended up the floors.  There were two rules, however.  The first rule was that once you opened the door to any floor, you must choose a man from that floor.  The second rule was that if you chose to go up a floor, you could not go back except to leave and never to return.  

A couple of girlfriends went there to find men.  On the first floor there was a door which had a sign on it saying, "These men have jobs and love kids."  The women said, "Well, that's better than not having jobs or not loving kids, but I wonder what's further up?"  So up they went to the second floor and the sign on the door read, "These men have high paying jobs, love kids and are extremely good-looking."  "Hmmm," they said.  "But I wonder what's further up?"  So they went up to the third floor.  The sign on the door said, "These men have high paying jobs, are extremely good-looking, love kids and help with the housework."  "Wow!"  they said, "Very tempting but there's something better further up."  They went up to the fourth floor and the sign read, "These men have high paying jobs, are extremely good-looking, love kids, help with the housework, and have a strong romantic streak."  "Oh my!" the women said, "But think what must be on the next floor!"  So they went to the fifth floor.  When they got there they read the sign on the door, "This floor is empty and exists only to prove that women are impossible to please."

This is just a make believe story but perhaps it does strike a nerve with some folks.  This is the Christmas season and soon we will all be out shopping for gifts.  Knowing what gifts to get for the kids is generally not too difficult.  Knowing what gifts to get for the adults can be difficult.  "What will please dad?"  What will please grandma?"  We typically hate to get a gift which the other person doesn't like or want.  All you have to do is go to WalMart's the day after Christmas and look at the "Returns" line to know that not everyone was pleased with their gift.

So, we generally do a little research, "Ummm.  What would dad want?  What does grandma really need?  What will please her?"  Sometimes a gift does not have to be a material thing.  The gift of love is clearly a wonderful thing to give anyone.  Clearly, God's gift to us is His Son and our Savior, Jesus Christ.  When Jesus was baptized, the heavens opened up and God said, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

Consider the tradition in which gifts were given in the first place.  The wise men came to the baby Jesus and gave Him gifts of "gold, frankincense, and myrrh."  God gave us the gift of His Son.  The wise men gave Jesus gifts.  What gift does Jesus give to us?  Isaiah 9:6 tells us that Jesus is the Prince of Peace.  John 14:27 tells us that Jesus gives to us the "Gift of Peace."  In a world racked by wars, violence, and fear, the gift we receive by receiving Christ as our Savior is this, "Peace I leave with you.  My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."