Advent – Joy – Day 18

Christmas is a favorite holiday for some people, not because of the messages of peace, hope, joy, and love, but because they just know they’re going to hit the mother lode. 

It’s present time, and Santa’s on his way!

It’s not just kids, either, waiting on some fantastical creature, mom or dad, or a significant other to fill their stockings and deliver a long-awaited and hoped-for present or two (or ten or twenty).

But what happens when that expected windfall doesn’t come through?

Characters in some of our favorite Christmas movies had to deal with the disappointment of a terrible Christmas gift, in sometimes humorous ways: 

• Clark Griswold melted down over receiving a One Year Membership to the Jelly-of-the-Month Club instead of the bonus he was counting on. Cousin Eddie’s silver lining take? “It’s the gift that keeps on giving.”

• Ralphie got a pink bunny suit under the tree from well-intentioned but thoughtless Aunt Clara, when what he really wanted was a coveted Red Ryder BB Gun.
• Emma Thompson’s character Karen—in a heartrending scene from Love, Actually—is gifted a Joni Mitchell CD instead of the necklace she’d found in her philandering husband’s pocket. She retreats to her bedroom to choke down tears, realizing the truth of the situation, before returning poker-faced to finish the Christmas festivities with the family.

We’ve all had those times where we expected to receive something good, but instead got a slap in the face. It doesn’t just apply to presents at Christmas time either (although I know some mamas out there who sure would appreciate not having to fill their own stocking this year).

No, the gifts I’m talking about are things that we think will happen because A) we’re good people, B) we think we’re owed something, or C) we’ve actually put in the work and earned it. 

But life is anything but fair. Bad things happen to good people, yet suffering is not always a punishment for sin. It’s also easy to play the “poor pitiful” card and blame others for our struggles, but the truth is that sometimes there is no one to blame. 

Jesus says it best: “He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Matthew 5:45 NIV). We are all given the same sun, moon, stars, and sky. We have the rain, the wind, the rivers, and the seas. God’s love and grace are extended to all through natural means, but even that is hard to believe when so-called “acts of God” demolish homes, flood campgrounds, and claim innocent lives.

Yet the sun still comes up the next day, and with it come people bearing aid—food, clothing, blankets, shelter. 

A smile, a listening ear, a hug. 

A kind word.

The love of family and friends.

All are some of the best gifts we could ever receive.

But understanding the purpose of the pain is not the plan.

Faith is, and it’s the best gift ever.

Acknowledging our Creator and praising the One who desires to give us good gifts is a gift in itself.

And like Cousin Eddie said, “It’s the gift that keeps on giving.”

If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

Matthew 7:11 NIV

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

James 1:17 NIV

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Reflection and Prayer – When terrible things happen, I have to remind myself of these verses and remember times when God sustained me through some hard situations. Pray that He would remind you of His good gifts and give you the vision to appreciate all His mercies.