The Gift Wrap of Christmas

My family enjoys a gift exchange at Christmas time. Presents are carefully chosen and wrapped in beautiful paper. At the appointed time, all the gifts are placed on the floor in the middle of the living room, as everyone gathers around. There are no gift tags attached to the gifts however. Instead, we each draw a number from a basket. Beginning with the person who drew the lowest number, we choose a gift from the pile to unwrap. Those with higher numbers can choose to “steal” someone else’s already opened present, if they wish. It’s great fun because the gifts are often surprising, occasionally creative, and always inexpensive. In fact, they usually consist of things stuffed away in a basement cupboard that the owner no longer wants. A common term to describe this type of gift exchange is called a White Elephant Gift Exchange. This year’s gifts included a smiley face coffee mug, a puzzle, a mini crock pot, a gaudy Christmas village building, and – the most creative – an emergency candy bar.   

What intrigues me most about our gift exchange is the giftwrap. The way the gift is wrapped sometimes provides a clue as to what the gift is (coffee mug), but often a gift is placed in a larger box or a beautiful bag and there is no way to determine what the gift might be by looking at the way it is wrapped. In fact, the recipient is usually quite surprised (and not so happy!) when they open a gift that has been beautifully wrapped. Just as you can’t judge a book by it’s cover, you can’t always judge the value of a gift by it’s packaging.

Thinking about the way we wrap presents for people reminds me of the ways the Christmas message is sometimes packaged. The difference is that, although the packaging may differ, the message of Christmas is invaluable. I attended two different Christmas Eve church services this year. Both consisted of music, candles, scripture reading, and a Christmas message. But they were packaged quite differently.

The first service was quite casual. It began with the praise team’s presentation of Christmas music, along with coordinated spotlights, providing a contemporary concert-type atmosphere. A short movie showed the Christmas story read by two young children (with precious voice expression), and the four-part message was centered around the Advent candles. At the end of the service the Christ candle was lit, and then we all took turns lighting our own candles from the Christ candle. It was a beautiful image – the Christ candle (Jesus is the light of the world) and an auditorium filled with glittering candles, showing our prayer to be light to our world.

The second service I attended was more formal and liturgical. It was organized in five sections, each based on a song (canticle) from scripture. The service began with music by organ, handbells, flute, cello, French horn, and oboe, which set the mood for the sevice. Choir anthems and congregational singing were a part of each section, along with scripture read by congregation members. The Christ candle was also lit at the end of the service. What stirred me most at this service was the music – the resplendent organ and the joyful singing, reminding us of the joy of Christmas.

There are many ways a church (or other group) will decide to “package” the Christmas story. Whether casual or elegant, using old hymns or contemporary songs, displaying candles or pageantry – these are all just wrapping paper. The actual gift is the same, and it’s a gift from God. The good news, and the gift, is that:

“…a Savior has been born to you, he is Christ the Lord.” 

(Luke 2:11)

No matter how we choose to wrap it, this is the true gift of Christmas. And, like the gifts my family opened, it is surprising. Surprising that God would leave heaven and come to Earth. It is also creative - who could ever have predicted the amazing way God chose to bring about His plan for our salvation. But it is certainly not inexpensive. This gift cost Jesus his life; it is the most expensive gift ever given. It is no "white elephant" gift. God knew the exactly what we needed; this gift is perfectly designed for everyone who receives it. It is the absolutely best gift.

Thank you Jesus.

Merry Christmas!

Six Months with Toby

Toby and I met exactly six months ago, on June 12. I still remember his brown eyes pleading for me to take him home, gently placing his paw on my arm as we sat together on the grass outside the animal shelter. I knew that this was the dog God had chosen for me, and six months later, I’m so thankful for him.

He’s come a long way. I was so worried the first three weeks when he was so sick. Now he’s full of energy and loves to run and play; he’s perfectly healthy. He loves to race down the hall to catch the tennis ball or his rope; it’s really funny to watch him try to bring both back at once – the rope in his mouth while he bats the tennis ball around like a hockey puck. Interestingly, he will only chase the ball inside; I can’t get him to do it when we’re outside.

Toby loves the dog park; he’s so excited that he starts whining from the back seat even before we pull into the dog park driveway. He enjoys running with the other dogs and just sniffing around off-leash. He also loves going for walks as well as just sitting on “his” couch and looking outside.

He does well when I’m gone now that we have a pet gate for his room. He goes right to his room and sits on his chair when it’s time for me to leave each morning. I give him a milkbone treat when I leave, but he never eats it until I get home. He’s even learned to go in his crate when we’re at Grandma’s house. (That took quite a while as he was terrified of it at first.)

We’ve been spending the weekends at my parents’ since October to help care for my dad, and Toby has done very well with these transitions every week. He loves Grandpa and Grandma and has appropriated one of their couches as “his” spot. He also knows who will give him treats and the best place to sit at mealtimes.

When I think back to the beginning of the summer – how much I missed Tosca and wondering if I could even “do” another dog – I’m amazed at how this dog has captured my heart. I still miss Tosca, but I don’t miss her in the same way that I did all through last year. When I think of my dog, now the first thought is of Toby. And I hardly ever call him Tosca (or “her”) anymore. I love playing with him and watching him run and play. Although we still have things to work on (jumping, chewing, etc.), he’s making good progress. Hopefully we’ll get to some kind of obedience training this spring. And it's incredibly difficult to get a good photo of him. Although he's a beautiful dog, he hates having his picture taken and I can never get him to sit (or stand) still and look at the camera. In fact, I tried for quite a while to get a good photo of the two of us this morning, but all he wanted to do was play...just a little frustrating!!

I’m so thankful that God led me to Toby – he is the perfect dog for me.

Happy Six Month Anniversary!

You'd never know it from this photo, but Toby wanted nothing to do with Santa. He wouldn't stay by him at all until I came up and the photographer happened to catch the split second he turned around instead of looking at me. Every dog needs to visit Santa at least once!