The Better Gift

As I write this the Sears Wish Book is out and all over Facebook there are notices about the impending shopping season leading up to Christmas.

Before our children were born, my wife and I had talks about how we were going to raise our children in this consumer culture environment. We have had great discussions about what to give or not to give at Christmas for gifts. I could blame grandparents for my children’s great lists of “needs” at Christmas or just about any other time of the year. But the truth is, I have a part in the blame, along with the world in which we find ourselves.

Our world puts value on some of the strangest things. Things that rot, break down, decay and are tossed away. It doesn’t have to be that way. Proverbs speaks of greater gifts, greater resources, things even finer than the most precious jewels.

Wisdom, life, grace-gifts of God given to all of creation. Gifts that are free. Gifts that are meant to be shared and used in community. Gifts that we will never find in any catalogue. Gifts only God can give.

Sovereign God, we give you thanks for the gifts that you so freely give us. Amen. — BM