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The Good and Perfect Gifts
Posted By Susanne
Whew. Another Christmas has come and gone. All the planning, thinking, buying, hiding, wrapping, is done. In a grand flurry of 15 minutes it’s over. And as I sit looking amongst the wrapping and watching my children enjoying their gifts, my thoughts turn to the most perfect present of all, the gift God gave us in His Son Jesus. And I’m so thankful. My heart overflows with joy and contentment.
While having my coffee I opened my email to find an e-card from a blogging friend with a lovely message and this scripture:
“Every good and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights,…”
James 1:17
And it made me start thinking of the best gifts that I received this year. The ones that have brought deep joy that will last, the good and perfect gifts. Long after the body lotions are used up and forgotten about, long after the Il Divo DVD is played so much I get tired of it for awhile, long after the last chocolate is eaten. Which gifts will bring the lasting, abiding joy. I thought I’d make a list, this day after Christmas Day. How about:
- the gift of Jesus celebrated this day
- the free gift of salvation
- forgiveness
- being able to call Jesus my friend
- the chance to watch my children grown up
- a loving, hard working husband
- a country where I can worship freely without fear
- watching the sparkle in my kid’s eyes as we gather to open gifts
- enjoying meals with the family, all of us together
- having a home to do all this celebrating
- friends in my life, both in my “real” life and all the wonderful blogging friends I have connected with this year
- hope and faith that God will take care of me and that He is in control
- the New Year with a fresh start
- …and on, and on, and on
The gifts that came in the boxes were wonderful and fun and I’ll treasure each. But the gifts from the Lord are the ones that will bring the deepest, most abiding, most lasting joy. And those are the ones that I’m truly humbled at.
What are some of the gifts from the Lord this year in your life that have brought deep, abiding joy to you?
Dec 26th, 2006
I love that verse Susanne. Thanks for sharing.
I have had soooo many precious gifts this year - and every year of my life - it is so hard to even begin to list them!
Like you, my relationship with Christ and my salvation are at the top.
And my sweet son and my wonderful niece, whom I love as if she were my own, are right up there too. This year I have been trying to revel in every blessed moment I have with them. To miss them grow up would be such a horrible tragedy - I am so grateful that I am alive and with them every day. I love them so much and I thank God continually for them. They make my life so sweet!!! It was such a joy to buy gifts for them. Even wrapping them was not a burden at all because I was so excited to see their happy faces. And watching them tear open the paper and play with each one was wonderful!
Thanks for getting us to list these - I am smiling as I type! (Now I must get to bed! It is 3am!!! I had to post my tackle, so I am up way too late.:) )
What a nice list of blessings, Susanne. My greatest blessing this year was my family. Don’t know what I’d do without them. The joy they bring me never ends.
Your list is right down my alley, Susanne. To answer your question:
Knowing Jesus as my personal Saviour and enjoying a relationship with Him
My darling hubby, Steve
My precious gift this year, Olyvia, my daughter
A caring church
Friendships in the blogland
Knowing that He (God) is in control of everything in our lives.
Thank you Susanne for listing all of these precious gifts that I also am so thankful for.
I am thankful for so very much… including each and every item you listed… but for the last 19 months the top gift that comes to mind for me is my precious little girl Julia. After more than 3 years of us trying and waiting, the Lord blessed us with my most beloved baby girl. I can barely go a moment without thanking God for her. Even this afternoon as she is out for a couple of hours with her Daddy and playing with her cousin Jackson, I miss her… but she’ll be home soon, so I better get to work. I have so much to do to get caught up with blog and site listings for “5 Minutes for Mom”.
What a wonderful reminder, and your list is so very similar to mine!
My children and husband are my most valued earthly gifts- I cant imagine my life without them- second would have to be the closeness I have with my parents and their amazing support.
My relationship with Christ has grown so much deeper in the last year- Knowing that he holds my family, no matter what valley we travel through, brings me such confidence. Ive realized this last year that no matter the depth of my heartache, or the abundance of my Joy- His love and security is never swayinig and always constant.
I couldnt ask for anything more.
Thanks for sharing your list with us!
Heather
Your post has inspired me to jot down all that I am grateful for and the gifts that I have received this Christmas. Having this to go back to often is such a sweet reminder of all that God has provided.
I have come to love the moments I see Jesus in my daughter’s words and actions. She has such a deep concern and love for others. It can only come from God. Those moments bring me so much joy.
Those are wonderful gifts! Something that brought actual tears to my eyes was that my husband had secretly stayed up late several nights before Christmas, sewing me a little stuffed ninja. He LOVES me. It was a beautiful feeling!
Great post. A timely reminder that the true gifts of Christ (mas) never really pass. Thanks!