What to give, what to give. . . .

On coming to the house, [the Magi] saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 

--Matthew 2:11

This time of year, we take everything we know from Matthew and Luke and we tend to conflate it into one single story. (What that means is, we take the shepherds from Luke, the Magi from Matthew and anything else we have picked up along the way and tell it as a single story. There is nothing terribly wrong with that, as long as we are aware we are doing it. Were you aware?)

Anyway, I want to write about the Magi this time, because the gift-giving we do today really started with them. 

These Magi, foreigners from another land to the East, somehow learned that this King had been born, and they somehow, at some level, knew that they, too, were to worship this baby born of mean estate.

And so, armed with valuable gifts, they set off following a wonderful star, a star with a tail, that their "religion" had told them would lead them to where this child lay. 

Scripture tells us these Magi brought three gifts to the Child: gold, frankincense and myrrh. And they laid these gifts at the foot of the manger and worshiped the babe.

* * * * *

American writer O Henry tells a story called, "The Gift of the Magi," in which a poor young couple, with barely two nickels to rub together, love each other so deeply, they sacrifice so they can give one another a truly special gift for Christmas. He sells his watch to buy her a beautiful set of hair brushes; she cuts her beautiful hair to purchase him a stunning watch fob.

These gifts, chosen with such care, turn out to be useless to the one receiving them.

The Magi's gifts seem similar to me. After all, of what use are gold or incense to the One from whom all things come? Even these men of great wisdom and means struggle to appropriately gift the Christ Child at his birth.

It hasn't changed that much, has it? Not really.

We still give gifts at Christmas, to one another in remembrance of the Christ. Yet we frequently end up giving things that either make no sense-- or have no meaning. 

At the last minute, we zip through the local department store, cannot find anything we like, and grab a gift card. After all, everyone can use a few extra dollars, right? And that way, they can pick what they want.

Right?

Now, I am not here to try and guilt you into a giftless Christmas. There is nothing wrong with giving gifts. In fact, giving a gift is a perfect way to remind someone you love them.

Just try hard(er) to be sure the gift itself actually says as much.

Maybe your friend could use that gift card. But maybe what they would rather have is a personal letter from you, or a phone call.

That elderly neighbor you bake cookies for. Does she need those cookies-- or would she rather have you stop over and read to her for a bit? Bring a pair of warm socks. Or-- brew some tea, stick around and eat some of those cookies with her.

The greatest gift, the only thing the Christ Child desires of us at all this season-- is ourselves. No thing of this world is as pleasing to God as our selves.

And sometimes-- that gift of self is given to another, in the name of the One whom we profess to follow, Jesus.

What will you give this year, to a child, a loved one or a stranger, that comes from your heart? How will you reach out in a new way, and reach beyond with an offering of self?

What Shall I Give Him?

You are still the greatest gift you can give. You needn't have a lot, to give a lot. Thanks be to God.