The Gift

I once received a copy of the book The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman from a girl I was dating. This book discusses that there are different ways that people express and receive love. One of the love languages is the giving and receiving of gifts. The girl who gave this book to me took the liberty to highlight certain sections for me to read. Needless to say things didn’t work out.

Just recently my oldest child turned 3 years old. We had a wonderful party and when it came time for gifts, her friend kept bringing her new gifts to unwrap before she could respond with gratitude for the gifts just received. For those whose primary love language is gift giving and receiving, their was disappointment in their faces when our daughter was distracted with a new package just as her eyes would light up with wonder at the recently unwrapped gift. Now in all fairness, she is 3 years old, and the children that were bombarding her with distractions, from what I believe would be an appropriate response of gratitude, were young children as well. But for the givers of the gifts, that gratitude would have been a deep expression of love that mirrored that of the gift even though it was not equal to it.

When it comes to giving and receiving gifts, I have never been the best at that. If a gift received cost more than the gift I gave, I feel like I owe them something. It happens to all of us; we received a Christmas card in the mail and realized it is from someone that is not on our list. Immediately we put one in the mailbox hoping that it will arrive at their home in time for them to think that we sent it before we received theirs. Why do we feel the need to get even? Why could we just say thank you?

This advent season, we prepare ourselves to receive a gift so great. One that we will never be able to equal, Christ Jesus Himself. So often this time is called the season of giving, but it is important to take time to focus on how we are receiving as well. Our daughter received the gifts she was given with joy and wonder even if the moment was interrupted. She never sought to get even or recalled that she didn’t get some of these children gifts at their most recent birthday, she simple celebrated the gift, which in turn celebrated the giver. During this time our challenge is to empty ourselves of the distractions in our lives that would keep us from authentic gratitude to the Christ-Child. Advent is meant to be a joyful preparation as we anticipate a gift so great. Indeed, the giver is no stranger to this joy. His love must be shared, poured out on the cross, into our lives and then from us to Him through the way we share Him with others. Afterall, the greatest gifts must be shared. This Advent I pray that we may prepare hearts of gratitude so that we may celebrate the gift and the giver with joy and wonder.

Chris Bartlett
IHeardtheCall.com