I opened the door to the grinning face of my teenaged son. There, wrapped in a black trash bag stood my boy, a picture of a big red bow taped to his head. He beamed with the delight of his own creativity as he hugged me and told me that he was my gift for the day.
This boy has always been a gift. His presence in my life reminds me daily to laugh more, love deeper, and let the sweetness of grace roll across my worries. But today it wasn’t the goofy grin, the crazy costume, or the dramatic flavor of the moment that pierced my heart. It was the gift of himself. It was the way that he captured the essence of Jesus outside my door that holds my soul in its grip.
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” – John 1:14
Open the door to your heart. Do you see Him? God in baby clothes lying in a food trough. A gift. God in little boy shoes, standing in the temple asking and answering divine questions. A gift. God walking into a muddy river to be baptized. God walking through a barren desert to be tempted. A gift. God touching the dirty, the wounded, the hurting, the unwanted – touching me. A gift. God wrapped in nothing but love, stretched out on a cross, red ribbons of agony covering His body. A gift.
Everyday Jesus stands just outside of the door of our hearts and waits. He offers Himself as a gift. Sometimes He is wrapped in blessings, answered prayers, or joy. I greedily grab at the wrapping, and miss the Gift. Other times, He is wrapped in burdens, struggles, questions, or pain. Tools He can use to teach me and usher me deeper into grace. I don’t want these wrappings, and I push the Gift away.
My Jesus Resolution today is to embrace my Gift. He will come today, just as He does every day, to offer me the gift of Himself. He will knock, and I will have a choice about how I answer the moment. I don’t want to miss the gift of His presence. I want to be changed by the fullness of grace that He brings to my door.
Casandra Martin 
Love the fact that your son has grasped the true meaning of giving of oneself and at such a great time in his life! Of course your “gift” of God’s son in all that He did while He was here on earth was beautifully presented. We sometimes think the only time He was a gift was on the cross; but then you have reminded that each day of living as a man was a sacrifice for us. (Philippians 2: 6-8) Thanks!