so many gifts under the tree, I wonder how many are there for me?

I open them quickly, one by one –

then I feel kinda sad when I’m all done.

Is that all there is? Is there nothing more?

I guess what I want can’t be found in a store.

It can’t be bought and it can’t be sold –

I don’t even know its name – if truth be told.

But there must be some gift that could fill my empty space,

something or someone – I don’t know the name or face.

the face of forgiveness, the face of love,

the face of God come down from above.

God’s gift to me lay in a manger lowly,

the commonplace now transformed by the Presence of the Holy.

God’s gift to me so unexpected,

this gift of Christmas so often rejected.

The package is a manger, holding a baby small,

those who accept the present, find the greatest gift of all.

The gifts God gives of hope and joy

are better to me than any new toy.

The manger was full of peace and of light,

full of God’s plan to make all things right.

I was looking for my Christmas gift under the Christmas tree,

but I found it right where God had said, it was in the Nativity!

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over His kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.” (Isaiah 9:6-7)

God’s gift to the world – the baby in the manger, Christ on the cross, the Risen Savior sitting at God’s right hand, making intercession for you and for me even now –

sincerely, Grace Day