For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23)

It starts the day after Thanksgiving known to many as Black Friday. In annual family tradition my mother, sister and usually a friend, head to a mall. We leave early, usually around 5:30am . A good breakfast eaten on the way fortifies us for a very long day. The prize – the perfect gift at the perfect price! The search might continue all day but when found, the excitement does not end there because, you see, I love to wrap. Much thought will go into the perfect paper, bows and adornments. This beautiful gift is an accumulation of my time, my money and my talents. It's truly a gift from my heart meant as a token of my love for the person receiving it.

Come Christmas Eve my “perfect” gift becomes insignificant as I sit in church in quiet contemplation of God's gift – His token of love - His son, the baby Jesus. His is the perfect gift – not wrapped up in pretty paper and bows but in swaddling clothes - not laid under a Christmas tree but in a manger stall. The price - free for the asking. The price He paid for our free gift – humiliation, rejection and a horrible death on a cross. My perfect gift pales in comparison to His humble one.

Both gifts are under the Christmas tree. Which one will you choose?

From the song : From Heaven Above to Earth I Come

Thank you God for the most perfect gift we will ever receive! Alleluia! Amen

Ginger Garner