Ta-Da!

Christmas was one of my mom’s favorite holidays.  She loved Christmas.  She loved everything about it and she made it VERY SPECIAL.  One of our “traditions” was that no matter where we were, if it was at her parents’ house (as small children) or later as adults, when we opened presents, she ALWAYS opened her presents last.  It was like the “ta-da!” to the day.  I vividly remember this because we made such a big deal out of it.

Everyone wondered, did she get what she wanted?  - did dad get THE PERFECT PRESENT this time? – what would her reaction be - we would wait with baited breath . . . . phew!  S-U-C-C-E-S-S!  or uh-oh, this ain’t good!!

I wonder now what WAS she looking for?  What WAS the perfect present or the perfect ending to this holy day?  Would she EVER get what she EXACTLY wanted . . . EVER?

I find myself reacting the same way (unfortunately) . . . looking for the perfect gift . . or reaction . . . or feeling.  What’s with that?  Is my Christmas “success” going to be wrapped up in the presents I get?  Really?  Or will it be in the rest of the celebration – the family and the fellowship and the worship and the love and the food and the giving. 

I don’t know if I have EVER got the perfect gift for Christmas and I’ve received pretty much everything from diamonds to hug coupons to small appliances.  This year we found out we are going to have another grandchild next year!  That sounds PRETTY PERFECT if you ask me, but still . . . . . when the night’s all over and its just me and my heart – is THAT going to do it for me?

Psalm 103 says:

Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name.
Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.
Who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,
Who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,
Who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagles.

(my emphasis)

The Psalmist says praise God with ALL MY INMOST BEING – that’s the heart, the mind, the soul – all of me (we’ve “talked” about this before)  and to “forget not His benefits” – all He has given, all the blessings in my life – I couldn’t BEGIN to name all that He has given me.

Then there’s the “redeems my life from the pit” part – yep, been there, hated that.  I’m redeemed and I am definitely NOT in the pit anymore – I’m on solid ground and not drowning (AND LOVE IT).

WOW – just thinking about this gives me goosebumps (or as my friend says:  “Holy Ghost bumps”) !!!!!

And my desires?  My desire for that perfect Christmas (“ta-da!”) – that perfect present – family – marriage?  What about that?

The Psalmist  says He will satisfy us with “good things” – “GOD” things is what I’m thinking:  what God knows is BEST for me – not what I think is best or what the world tells me is best – but what God KNOWS is best for me – good things (and in those good things, I am renewed and refreshed and enlightened (just to name a few J)).  

The baby Jesus, in the manger, came to save me.

Came to save you.

He was born for THAT REASON – to save.

His life for ours.

       His gift – our redemption -  our satisfaction – our hope

                                           our “ta-da!”

The summation of all that Christmas has been,  is and will be . . . .

til the PERFECT ENDING – heaven !!! 

May our hearts see . . . His PERFECT gift .