In this season of gift giving, we are once again faced with the question of what we do with the gifts we receive. Would we ever not open a gift given to us? If nothing else, wouldn’t curiosity win out? I don’t think I could leave a present unopened – I would want to know what’s inside. But what does actually happen to my Christmas gifts?

Do some get set aside to be opened later when I have more time? Does the gift then get buried under various other things and end up forgotten and unopened due to being out of sight? Or do I determine that I know what it is by its shape and size, decide I don’t want what I think it is and therefore don’t open it for that reason. How many gifts every year are given, received and never opened?

Or having opened my gift, do I reject it for whatever reason? Do I throw it away, give it away, (re-gifting is the appropriate term) or do I relegate said gift to storage in an attic, basement or closet, never to be seen or thought about again. Or maybe I am happy to receive the gift and have plans to put it to good use, whatever that might be. But I never take it out of the box and actually use it or wear it or enjoy it. I let my gift sit on the shelf taking up space and collecting dust.

When I overlook, under appreciate or refuse to receive a gift, do I realize what I am doing to my relationship with the giver of the gift? Maybe I am not aware of the time, effort or sacrifice the giver of the gift put into his present. I wonder if that’s how my Heavenly Father feels about my reaction to His gift to me, the gift of His Son. Certainly this gift required quite a bit of sacrifice on God’s part. In fact, it is a very costly gift that you and I have been given. I tend to forget just how much was required of Jesus –

“Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:6-8)

God provided the sacrifice for my sin. That’s God’s free gift to me, given in the form of a baby in a manger, a baby who would grow up to be the Christ on the cross. God gave me a Savior, a Redeemer, Someone to rescue me from certain death and instead give me eternal life! This gift of Jesus is exactly what I need and exponentially more than I deserve. Why would I not receive this gift with joy and gratitude?

I don’t want to overlook God’s gift of His Son. I don’t want to reject Jesus or to refuse to make room for Him in my life. I don’t want to relegate Jesus to a place on a shelf in a closet somewhere out of sight and therefore out of mind. No, Advent is about me preparing a place of honor and prominence in my heart and in my life for the coming King, God’s gift to me and to this weary world. Advent is about me realizing and remembering what this gift cost God. It cost Him everything. God gave us Himself. His Presence with us.

“The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel – which means ‘God with us.’ ” (Matthew 1:23)

Advent is here. Time for me to clear away the clutter of lesser things and to make room to receive the King of Kings who is my King, my Lord, my Savior, my Redeemer, my Shepherd – God’s gift, given to me so that I might live.

“I (Jesus) have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10)

May I make room to receive God’s gift all over again this Advent season .

“Lift up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is He, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty – He is the King of glory.” (Psalm 24:7-10)

“Let every heart prepare Him room”

sincerely, Grace Day