The Greatest Gift

Life provides us with three major events. We are hatched, matched and dispatched. Two of these have something in common. That something is - gifts. We all love to receive gifts. The two events mention bring with them wedding showers and baby showers, and in time past they came in that order. Each has its focus and each one has its joy and reward.
With the baby showers, the mother is the one who is happy and appreciative. The child, just lies there, sleeps, cries for nourishment and/or a clean dry diaper. They are totally oblivious to all the commotion going on all around them. That is if the shower is after the birth.
With weddings, things are quite different. This last weekend we had a wedding in our back yard. Such a beautiful wedding. Such wonderful young adults moving forward into a life of commitment one to the one another. Their gift to us that day, was to see their eyes talking to each other without words being spoken. Not that the groom has much to say on the best of days. Thank you for sharing that with us.
At the other end of the reception room sat a lonely table. Filled with wonderfully wrapped gifts. Some large and taking up lots of space. Other gifts, smaller but just a lovingly chosen and wrapped just for these two special people. Lastly there were many envelopes. After officiating at a number or wedding, I assume these cards had financial gifts included. Something they could give and something every young couple could use.
Time and time again I have seen couples open gift after gift and shine with delight in knowing the giver and the significance of the gift and what it means to both of them. Dishes, can openers, pots and pans, sheets and towel, the list goes on and on. This is a time to help and give at the same time. Start them off on the right foot we might say. But the gifts we possess in life is far more important.
That gift is wrapped in our presence at the wedding, and in the marriage. The gift of being part of each others life. Jesus went to a wedding and the gift He gave was His presence there and no one knew it at the time. It wasn’t the water to wine miracle, even though that was significant. It was his presence there.
And just like His presence at that wedding, His gift to us is His presence in our lives, no matter how long they last. He said to them and to us, “I will be with you always . . . ” If you have Christ as part of your life, walk with Him and have the gift of His presence. And just so you know, His presence is also on all the other days of our lives.
And He walks with me, And He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own,
And the joy we share, as we tarry there,
None other has ever known
Something to think about.
Rob