The Gift

Emaly stepped off the train into the gray drizzle—excited, but a little nervous. The twinkling lights of the city were just awakening the night sky. She hurried toward the theatre—a small, old, but elegant building reminiscent of the Golden Age. The Gift of the Magi was playing, and Emaly was meeting a "new friend" there—Peter Williams. Peter was tall and handsome, but very ordinary—in a good way. He was nice looking, but not pretentious or overly eager to make a good impression—just a genuinely good guy. Emaly was excited to spend the evening with him and get to know him better.

As she rounded the corner of Broadway and 35th, blaring sirens overcame the peace of the cool evening. Alarmed, Emaly thought of her dad. Weak from heart disease, he wasn't expected to live long. The 12-hour workdays of a single dad had taken their toll over the years. "They're not for him," she said, calming herself.

The contrast of the two men caused her to reflect. Her dad had lived a hard but full life of sacrifice and love for God and his family. Her time with him was passing. Now, a new season with Peter was beginning, with all the hope of new life and love—like spring pushing its way up and through the winter darkness.

They were both gifts. Through both men God had given a picture of His ultimate gift to her: Jesus. His sacrifice and toil in living an earthly life as God in the flesh was not wasted on her. She had seen a man sweat and bleed and spend his life on her before. She had seen sacrifice and deeply appreciated it. And after Jesus' crucifixion came His resurrection. She had found forgiveness and a new, vibrant life in Him. The joy she felt in relationship with Peter reflected God's goodness to her, and a fullness that comes through relationship with Him. Gratefully, she thought, "He has made everything beautiful in its time" (Ecclesiastes 3:11, NIV).