Giving that Brings a Smile

Tuesday - December 21st

Scripture to Read Today: Matthew 2:1-12

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On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Matthew 2:11

After the great artist Salvador Dalí and the comedian/harpist Harpo Marx met and expressed mutual admiration, Dalí sent Harpo a unique Christmas present. He sent Harpo a harp with barbed wire for strings and spoons for tuning knobs, wrapped in cellophane. Harpo was delighted and sent Dalí a photo of himself sitting at the harp with bandaged fingers.

Dalí and Harpo continued to exchange fun-loving Christmas gifts for several years. Their publicists often shared pictures of the presents so others could enjoy the fun the two had together. The presents we give others at Christmas often bring a smile to the recipients' faces. That smile acts as a crucial part of the gift sharing.

The Scriptures make it very clear that our heavenly Father sending His Son to earth is a gift to us from God. When we grasp the magnitude of the gift of Jesus and the grace it represents in our own lives, we too experience a spiritual smile that often changes our physical countenance. After praying with someone who just accepted Jesus as Savior, I have enjoyed seeing a new smile on the person's face.

After the long journey of hundreds of miles, what a smile must have been on the overjoyed faces of the wisemen as they met the baby Jesus. They finally encountered the gift from God they sought. As they are overjoyed and fall down in worship before Him, they present Jesus with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. They bring gifts to the one Who is the Great Giver!

All of us have things to offer our Lord in response to His grace to us. We begin by giving ourselves to Him. Then, we give from that with which He has blessed us. Ultimately, our God is pleased by our generosity and sacrifice for Him. So let's engage with God in giving that brings a smile to Him, others, and even to us!

As we give of ourselves and what we have back to the Great Giver, it brings a smile to His face!