The other day, I was cleaning out my dresser. I opened the drawer that I refer to as “the random drawer” because over time it seems to accumulate numerous items that are just that – random. I dug in, weeding through pictures, old notes, check stubs, ribbons, and half eaten packs of gum. Finally, near the back of the drawer, I found a little red watch with the plastic still on it. It happened to go with my outfit that day, so I excitedly put it on. All day at work I kept starring at that watch wondering where it came from. Then it hit me! My dad gave me this watch as a valentines day gift…in the fourth grade.

Needless to say, somehow my eight year old self tucked this gift away and forgot about it, and now, eight years later, I’m wearing it for the first time. I’d be lying if I said this was the first time I’ve hidden a gift and forgotten about it. I have a bad habit of doing this with gifts cards as well, tucking them away only to find them expired, years later.

With Christmas behind us, I’m reminded of the most commonly forgotten gift – the gift of Jesus Christ, coming to earth to take my place on the cross. This gift didn’t come nicely wrapped with a bow on top, but instead He came wrapped in rags and lying in a feeding trough. There is such a sweet simplicity to Christmas that is so often and easily forgotten in today’s fast paced, self centered society. Sometimes I sit and wonder what Mary must have felt like that first Christmas night. It might have been loud and it might have been stinky, but I guarantee that didn’t matter to her. I picture a moment – a sweet and simple moment, of an awestruck mother holding her hero, starring at the face of her savior.

So this year, as we take down our trees and begin to put away the Christmas ornaments, don’t pack Jesus in box with all the other decorations. The gift of Christ coming to earth is a gift to be celebrated and enjoyed each day of the year, not only at Christmas time. For He is the gift that cannot be outgrown, the gift that never spoils, and never expires.

“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” John 3:17

Don’t forget the gift.