Unexpected Gifts
Unexpected yet thoughtful gifts are the best.
Many years ago, during a particularly difficult Christmas season, we received a package from my husband’s brother and sister-in-law. Upon opening it, we found a set of hand-stenciled and hand-made placemats, a Christmasy tablecloth, and 3 hand-made, wooden Christmas trees. I immediately set the table with them, marveling at how such a thoughtful and unexpected gift could change the environment from oppressive to festive.
I still set the table with these gifts every year, appreciating anew the joy in thoughtfulness and unexpectedness.
Fresh out of college, I moved into an apartment and started furnishing it from scratch, as I had extra money. My future mother-in-law and SIL visited me, observing unbeknownst to me, that I lacked lights of any kind in my peach and white bedroom. That Christmas, I received 2 lamps that I still have in our bedroom today.
The pleasure that such thoughtful and unexpected gifts bring is hard to describe.
I am reminded every Christmas of the best unexpected gift of all, the incarnation of God’s Son, Jesus Christ, as a baby who grew to be a man who gave His life for the world, so poignantly described as “Hope Has Hands” in this song:
In search of a child they travel so far
Led by a star to a place of joy
Now the wise men tell a beautiful story
Describing the glory of a baby boy
Hope has hands
Freedom has feet
Truth will stand
The Word will speak
The holy and lowly will finally embrace
For love has a heartbeat
And grace has a face
Compassion has a tear
Joy has a laughter
And here ever after peace has a smile
Redemption’s blood has veins to flow in
A temple to glow in
Light is a child
Hope has hands
Freedom has feet
Truth will stand
the world will sleep
The holy and lowly will finally embrace
For love has a heartbeat
And grace has a face
The holy and lowly will finally embrace
For love has a heartbeat
Love has a heartbeat
And grace has a face.
– Phil Cross
Thank you, Jesus!
Merry Christmas!