What Can I Give Him?

The Christmas season is upon us...it is a season of giving, of love, of hope and of miracles. We give gifts to our loved ones, we spend precious time with family and friends and we believe and expect for the newness and wonder the New Year will bring.

A tradition our family has had over the years that we started when the boys were young is to make a birthday cake for Jesus. It sounds childlike maybe, but we always want our sons to remember the reason we are giving. Russ always says to them...how would you like people to come to your birthday party and give gifts to each other and have nothing for you? It doesn't make any sense at all! So, we take some time to pause and practically remember WHO we are celebrating. And what are we giving to Jesus this Christmas...what does HE really want?

Yesterday I was taken back to a Christmas many years ago when Russ was in Bible School. It was our second year in Nova Scotia and all of our finances were depleted. We were truly living on faith...each week wondering how we would feed our boys. One thing you should know about me is that I LOVE to give gifts. I don't care so much about getting them :) but giving something I know will mean something to the receiver is what makes me excited. So not being able to buy for the boys and other family members was especially hard for me.

I remember, that year, we were doing a Christmas musical about The Little Drummer Boy. There was a song we sang that of course held the words, "I have no gift to bring...pa rumpa pum pum." Every time we sang it, I felt overwhelmed and full of sadness as this was the first time in my life it was completely true. Even for the Christmas offering... I was desperate to give...with nothing to draw from. But the truth of that story is of giving ourselves to the King. You might not have gold, frankincense or myrhh like the kings did, but you still have a priceless gift for HIM. It's something He desires more than any other thing.

Last night at the Children's Christmas concert the little girls danced to the simple song....What can I give Him....What can I bring....What is a gift that's fit for a King? And the answer was sweetly given as they lifted their red paper hearts high...I'll give Him my heart....I'll give Him my heart...what can I give Him but all of my heart? It's so true. More than any other thing, this is the truth of Christmas.

There were several miracles that took place in our family that year. A family in the church we barely knew brought us a turkey. Someone blessed us with some money we were to set aside for gifts for the boys. The other miracle took place inside of me. There was a giving up of sorts...a fresh surrender to the King...born in a stable in a humble way...a new giving of my heart, to give who I am to Him.

We have been given a Savior who longs for us. He is our promise come true. If you find yourself in a place this year where it seems there is nothing to give or you feel your heart is broken or even cold...bring HIM your heart anyway...that's what Jesus wants for Christmas.