When The Gift Is A Disappointment
Yesterday was the day after Christmas and though the gift-giving was technically over, my 3-year-old, Quade, discovered a little box that had been cast aside near the fireplace. He stuck a sad-looking remnant of paper that had a little leftover tape on the side of the box and toddled into the living room to happily present it to me.
His grin lit up the room more brightly than our Christmas tree.
He delighted in giving me his special package!
I opened the lid and inside was a Nerf gun dart and a plastic coin from his play cash register. I squealed with glee and he beamed at my excitement. As he skipped happily away, I couldn’t help but think about all of us parents in the thick of family life during the holiday season. Surely there have been good and happy moments but just as surely, there may have been moments of imperfection and disappointment too.
Some of us didn’t get any gifts under the tree or couldn’t give any to our kids. Some of us found out about parties we were not invited to and some of us spent time at the hospital or laid up in bed, quarantined. Some of us had every reason to be happy, but instead, we felt weary and exhausted emotionally and spiritually. Some of us had our feelings hurt or felt the shame of hurting others. In times like these, it’s easy to imagine that nobody else feels like this. Nobody else is having a hard time. Nobody really cares about us.
That’s not ever true.
Friends, this day is a gift from Someone who sees you and knows you and loves you.
It may look a bit imperfect on the outside, much like Quade’s shoddy wrapping, but it’s a gift, nonetheless. And the Giver delights in presenting it to you. In this world, Jesus told us we would have trouble. But He also encouraged us to take heart because He has overcome the world. (John 16:33)
When I’m feeling discouraged, I see two roads stretched out before me. Both of them are bumpy, but one leads down to a dark funnel, lined with signs that read messages of despair and negativity — echoing thoughts that are filled with self-pity and discouragement.
The other road leads upward to peace and light, lined with signs that read messages of truth, hope, and good tidings of holy expectation. Every time I face those two roads, I must muster my faith to take the path of peace and light. To read the signs of blessing and promise. To climb upwards, without looking down.
I never regret taking the higher road, challenging though it may be. The alternative is unthinkable to me. Traveling this road, lined with meditations on the goodness of God, is much happier to trod with others. Today, may not feel like a gift, but I’m stretching out my hand to you, fellow pilgrim, hoping you will allow the Holy Spirit to lift your head and take a step in the right direction, with me.
Take a moment to meditate on one of these road signs:
“For I am persuaded that not even death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39)
“Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.” (Isaiah 43:19)
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13)
“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” (Isaiah 26:3)
“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!” (Psalm 150:6)
"You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head." (Psalm 139:5)
Don’t allow the imperfections of the pathway trouble you. Step into a new day with the map of God’s Word resolutely before you. It’s the Enemy who wants us to take the path of darkness and defeat. He wants us to scoff at the idea that even our troubles can be turned into gifts that bless our lives.
Friend, we are not made for this world as it is. The days are short. Each one can become what Satan means for it, or what God means for it. My prayer for us as we enter this next New Year is that we will not take any gift, any day, for granted. And that we won’t just buckle down and plod our way through. But that we will overflow with gratitude and godly joy that does not waver when circumstances look like discarded wrappings and cast aside trinkets.