Your best gift

It was two Sundays before Christmas, services were over and I was headed thru the foyer and down the hall to my car. My family was waiting for me, and I, I’m always the straggler chatting with everyone on my way. As I was walking, I heard a little voice, “Miss Melody! Miss Melody!” – And there standing near the front doors of the church was one of my favorite little friends.

You may not know this, but when you teach children’s choir you make a lot of friends at church that are not your age. Many of my friendships at church are in the 5-11 age range – and I treasure them all. But this little girl is one of the sweetest. She started out in choir absolutely terrified to be there – and she even accidentally fell of the stage in one of our rehearsals last year – but she has persevered! She’s not afraid anymore – and even better, we are big time buddies.

At any rate – there she was waving something in her little hand at me! Before I knew it she had pushed a candy cane into my hand. Her mama told me later that she had said she wasn’t sure who it was for, but she was bringing it to church in her purse to give to someone special.

I just about choked up on the spot. My young friend had given her best little gift. To Me.

These things take a while to ruminate with me, ya know? I’ve been thinking about that broken little candy cane, she gave to me. It isn’t much different than what I have to offer these days. Most of what I’ve got to give is a little bit (or in some cases a lot) broken.

Here we are peaking around the corner to 2020 – and I have a lot of hopes of what the year can be. But all I have to offer my Heavenly Father, in the midst of all those hopes is one pretty broken life. A lot of mess-ups, cringeworthy stuff, and junk. It’s the time of year to give my best. Let’s get real: I’ve got a few talents and gifts he’s given to me, and most of them are tainted with my own humanity and sin nature. Plain old broken stuff.

There’s good news penned by Christina Rossetti in a carol we sing at our Christmas concert every year:

What can I give Him, poor as I am?

If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb.

If I were a wiseman, I would do my part.

Yet what I can, I give him, give Him my heart.

I’m reminded that the best gift I can give to my Heavenly Father, now and all year long is my broken life. And even better is the gift of His promise to us – the renewal and restoration of every heart that belongs to Him. These are the best gifts.

Thanks be to God!

Heavenly Father, Here I am calling out to you, waving my gifts and ready to give them back to you. They are all I’ve got! But I know you love me, and I know you’re ready to take them and mend every piece that is broken! Thank you for this indescribable gift of peace this knowledge brings to my life! Amen.