“For it is by grace
you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift
of God! “ Ephesians 2:8 (Emphasis
added)
I was in 2nd grade and I
desperately wanted “Velvet” for Christmas. Velvet was a beautiful doll dressed
in a deep purple velvet outfit with matching velvet shoes and hair
ribbon. On top of that, she had hair that could grow! With the turn
of a button, her hair could grow longer or be shortened. Since my family of 8
was on a tight budget, Velvet was a very extravagant and unlikely gift. But on
Christmas Eve, she lay under the Christmas tree for me. A good gift indeed.
About 20
years later, I was pregnant. Although my baby wasn’t due until January, it
worked out for me to take time off from my job in December to prepare my home
for the new arrival. Several weeks early, on Christmas Eve, my beautiful,
bouncing baby boy, Colin, was born. A better gift by far than any doll!
As I was
pregnant with Colin, I pondered Mary, Jesus’ mother, and how she might have
felt on her journey so many years ago. I thought of this young woman who
was told that she would bear a son. “You are to give him the name Jesus
because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matt 1:21) How amazing that
Jesus would leave the perfection of His heavenly home to live in this sin-filled
earth. “For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who
is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11) Wow! For me! A Savior
to pay the price of my sin so I have eternal life now & forever.Victoriously, I will someday live in heaven. The
best gift of all!! The most extravagant gift of all times, to us, that God
would love us so much that He would send His son to be our Savior. Truly the BEST gift of all.
Dear Lord, Thank You so much for sending Jesus to be my
Savior. What an amazing and awesome gift You sent for me! Help me each
day to treasure the very best gift of all: the free gift of a Savior and eternal life. In
His name, Amen.
