“Wow!” the exclamation came almost collectively from everyone in the room as Jessica pulled the beautiful sweater out of the wrapping paper. It was gorgeous!
One by one, each of the children finished opening the presents their father had bought them. Each present was different. They ranged from clothing to a bike to jewelry to electronics. Although the children didn’t realize it at the time, each gift was exactly what the recipient needed.
In the following days, however, a strange thing happened. Each one, rather than enjoying his or her own gift and using it to serve others, wished for what one of the other children had. Jessica longed for the mobility Sarah had with her bike; Sarah wished she had the sweater.
It took awhile for the children to stop comparing and to simply start enjoying the gifts they’d been given. When they did, however, they discovered the joy of embracing what they’d been given with thankfulness, discovering that their father had given each of them a special present…and the responsibility to use that present well.
“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.” Colossians 3:15 (KJV)
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