In the wee hours of the morning, just before the first rays of sun broke the dawn, my eyes would pop open, giddy with anticipation. Too excited to stay in bed, I would ever so carefully tiptoe out of my room, down the hall, and into the family room where my eyes were met with a mesmerizing Christmas morning scene. Presents neatly tucked underneath the twinkling tree. Generously filled stockings hung on the nearby mantle with care. And, resting on the coffee table, an empty plate and cup, a sure sign that Santa had enjoyed my cookie offerings.
As the youngest child in my family, I was always the first one up on Christmas morning. It gave me the perfect opportunity to inspect all my gifts. First, I read the gift tags to determine which boxes and bags had my name on them. Then I got to examining the size, shape, and weight of the presents.
My intense inspection was strategic. I knew precisely what I was looking for: my big gift. Every year there was one extra special gift on the top of my list that I yearned for most of all. As a child on those early Christmas mornings, it was this highly anticipated present that I searched for in the glow of the tree’s soft white lights. And once I was sure I’d found this gift, a thrill of hope would rise up within me followed by a surge of thankfulness. My wish had been granted. Santa had fulfilled my request.
I was cared for.
I was thought of.
I was loved.
I imagine that this childhood memory of mine might look like what some of you experienced growing up. Maybe you share a similar Christmas story that features heartfelt wishes, eager anticipation, and overjoyed jubilation. Perhaps, like me, you find that even with the passage of time, these emotions, hopes, and longings do not disappear, at least not entirely. Sure, they mature and change but, at the heart of it, I believe we’re all still little kids at Christmas, still searching for that One Big Gift.
And this is where we have a choice to make. You see, the world tells us that the big gift we’re looking for is something we can see with our eyes and hold in our hands.
For many of us, the special gift we desire isn’t particularly something that can be wrapped in paper and bows like a piece of jewelry, but rather something more consequential.
A child.
A family.
A positive pregnancy test.
The trouble with wrapping up all of our hopes and emotions in these earthly gifts is that we have little to no control over whether or not we will receive them. This can lead to disappointment, sorrow, and grief, making what should be the most wonderful time of year the most depressing time.
God’s Word tells a different story about the One Big Gift we’re waiting for. Instead of an earthly gift, it’s a heavenly one. And instead of making us happy for a moment, this amazing gift gives us eternal joy.
Jesus is the gift we most need – the Son of God who came as a human to rescue humans. He is the “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). He is our light in a dark world; our anchor in every storm; our unshakable rock of salvation; our hope through every season of waiting.
If you find yourself longing and looking for One Big Gift this Christmas, I urge you to look no further than the manger in Bethlehem. Fix your eyes on the Son of God who was born to take away the sins of the world. By grace through faith, invite Him to come and make your heart His home. Surrender before the Lord Jesus and take hold of the greatest present ever given, the presence of the Holy Spirit living eternally in your soul.
Beloved, once you receive this gift, I can assure you that a thrill of hope unlike any you’ve ever experienced will rise up within you. You’ll be swept by an overwhelming surge of thankfulness. Because at that moment, you’ll truly understand who you are as God’s child.
You are marvelously cared for.
You are intimately known.
You are loved unconditionally for eternity.
Stephanie Rice is a contributor for Waiting in Hope Ministries who became infertile at the age of 20 due to chronic illness. Her passion is the Word of God and encouraging others to walk by faith in the Lord Jesus. Stephanie currently resides in Northern Pennsylvania with her fur baby, Faith. She blogs at Jesustakethepen.com.
