The Christmas Gift
"I wrapped you a gift daddy! Merry Christmas, I love you."
Gili, my youngest six year old daughter said genially as she handed me her kitchen-foil-wrapped gift. She was all excited and expectant of my reaction to her gift giving. I do not think there will be a father whose heart won't melt at this love scene. I know my heart did. She's definitely a heart warmer.
So excitedly, I tore the gift open and I happily exclaimed "I love you honey!" while hugging her so tightly. Of course, what she gave me was an old toy that I bought her some years back. But that one was her favorite. And she gave it to me as a gift. She gave me her best.
I was hearing Mass when I heard the Lord spoke to me in my heart. And He said "Remember when Gili gave you her christmas gift? She gave you a gift that was your gift to her before. She gave you her favorite toy. She's got nothing that's genuinely hers to give to you. And remember how you felt when she handed it to you? How lovely she looked with her cute, smiling eyes? Expecting that you will love her back? I feel the same way too whenever you give Me your best as a gift. You have nothing on your own that you can give to Me. Because I gave you everything. Everything is from Me. But when you give Me your best, My heart melts. And I can only love you back. Rejoice My son for I gave you Emmanuel and I am forever with you."
For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but might have eternal life. - John 3:16
Gili, my youngest six year old daughter said genially as she handed me her kitchen-foil-wrapped gift. She was all excited and expectant of my reaction to her gift giving. I do not think there will be a father whose heart won't melt at this love scene. I know my heart did. She's definitely a heart warmer.
So excitedly, I tore the gift open and I happily exclaimed "I love you honey!" while hugging her so tightly. Of course, what she gave me was an old toy that I bought her some years back. But that one was her favorite. And she gave it to me as a gift. She gave me her best.
I was hearing Mass when I heard the Lord spoke to me in my heart. And He said "Remember when Gili gave you her christmas gift? She gave you a gift that was your gift to her before. She gave you her favorite toy. She's got nothing that's genuinely hers to give to you. And remember how you felt when she handed it to you? How lovely she looked with her cute, smiling eyes? Expecting that you will love her back? I feel the same way too whenever you give Me your best as a gift. You have nothing on your own that you can give to Me. Because I gave you everything. Everything is from Me. But when you give Me your best, My heart melts. And I can only love you back. Rejoice My son for I gave you Emmanuel and I am forever with you."
For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but might have eternal life. - John 3:16
