Advent: The Gift That Satisfies

Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

2 Corinthians 9:15 ESV

In my first childhood home, our freshly cut Christmas tree stood in the middle of a platform of two four-by-eight-foot panels hinged together. Attached to the platform lay a figure-eight train track. My older brother crafted scenery, a town, and papier-mache mountains with tunnels to scale. We enjoyed many hours playing and trying to keep the cat from chasing and derailing the train! A few presents were placed on the floor next to the train display. As a traditional Czech family, we celebrated Christmas on Christmas Eve with a meal of homemade barley soup.

Afterwards, we gathered in the living room after Santa Claus had mysteriously visited. He left the patio sliding glass door cracked open since we didn’t have a fireplace for him to use. Our flannel stockings were filled with unshelled nuts and hard Christmas candy that stuck to the flannel. If we had been “good” that year, an orange or an apple was stuffed into the toe. We methodically opened gifts. But one year, when I was nine, I ripped into my gifts like a tornado.

Christmas morning, my mom came into my bedroom with a wrapped box. She chided me. In my excitement, I had missed a gift the night before. Ouch, my heart stung. Suddenly, I didn’t care about the gift, but I opened the box and put it aside. I vowed never to act like that again.

My Christmas experience for decades: disappointment.

Now, as a Christ-follower, I choose to meditate on the gift of Christmas. Jesus—the perfect gift, the only gift I desire and need. As I reflect on the first Christmas, I am humbled, grateful, and content.

Father, I deserve death... but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus, our Lord (Romans 6:23). Jesus, thank You for leaving heaven to give Yourself to us in the flesh. You satisfy our deepest needs. You are our living hope (1 Peter 1:3).

Karen Sims