Gift that keeps giving

Two months ago I was praying for inspiration for Christmas gifts for friends I wanted to express meaningful gratitude. (It is never to early to prepare Christmas gifts, right?) At the time I was contemplating Matthew 2:11. “And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.” 

I was wondering if there is any symbolic or deeper meaning to the choice of the three gifts and its connection with the birth of Jesus. While doing some Bible study and research, I was inspired to prepare three gifts for a couple of friends.

Each chosen gift had some sentimental value and was supposed to be something meaningful to the person it is intended for. For example, I was inspired to share a meaningful book, a creative thing I made while praying for the person, etc. 

While preparing the gifts, I also wrote a message with an invitation to friends to play with me by exploring and engaging with the gifts I sent. It made me wonder how those gifts might bless the recipients; and if they accept the challenge, how it will continue to bless them. 

I got so wrapped up in making gifts and the playful challenges I presented to the recipients that I forgot the main gift - Jesus. 

My gifts were inspired by contemplating Bible verses and prayer, but I knew they would not make a difference unless Jesus did something special for each person I was praying for. So I returned to my prayer closet, seeking Jesus to inspire my friends with gifts that will continue to bless them.

I was already blessed. There was something I was seeking, and I got an answer in the form of an inspiration to send the three gifts. I knew that an inspiration for the gifts was my answer to a prayer.

It was nothing special about the Christmas gift itself. The gift is all about the person who can use anything to create anything, like the first miracle that Jesus performed by turning water into wine (John 2:1-11). Now it is up to Jesus to turn those creative gifts into something beautiful. It is up to Him to perform another miracle.

Do you have a person that you would like to express meaningful gratitude to? You can pray for the person for a period of time. After a while, you might be inspired to prayerfully create something for the person. Jesus is not limited by our creativity or inability to create. He can turn anything into something and bless everyone in the process.