And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.

Luke 2:12

The gifts under the Christmas tree flooded the room. Everyone spotted the large box, wrapped in red holly berry paper, standing upright against the wall. With seven siblings, I never considered that the massive box held my name. To my surprise, someone handed me the largest gift. The box contained a doll house, three stories high, with cardboard walls and a plastic elevator.

As I grew, I learned of a much larger present, given long ago. Although not covered in paper, this Gift was wrapped in strips of cloth. Never tucked under a Christmas tree, this Gift adorned a tree with his bloodied body. Immanuel, God with us.

My doll house is long gone. Thankfully, the best Gift dwells with us now and forever.

Gretchen Huesmann
Pensacola, FL

Jesus, you are the greatest gift. Thank you for your presence and the gift of eternal life. Amen.

Reflect: Recall your best gift ever. Where is it now? Jesus is the present which lasts forever.

Read: 1 Corinthians 1:4-9 and Matthew 2:1-12