A Box full of Kisses this Christmas

The story goes that some time ago, a man punished his 3-year-old daughter for wasting a roll of gold wrapping paper. Money was tight, and he became angry when the child tried to decorate a box to put under the Christmas tree. Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift to her father the following morning and said, “This is for you, Daddy.” He was embarrassed by his earlier overreaction, but his anger flared again when he found the box was empty. He yelled at her, “Don’t you know that when you give someone a present, there’s supposed to be something inside it?” The little girl looked up at him with tears and said, “Oh, Daddy, it is not empty I blew kisses into the box. All for you, Daddy.” The father was crushed. He put his arms around his little girl and begged for her forgiveness. It is told that the man kept that gold box by his bed for the rest of his life, and whenever he was discouraged, sad, unhappy, or just reminiscing, he would take out an imaginary kiss and remember the love of the child who had put it there. – unknown

My wife Jill gave me some of the wisest counsel: Never ascribe the worst possible motives to anyone. Like that father, I can easily assume the worst in people. The Holy Spirit is much better at judging the thoughts and intentions of the heart than I am. How often do I try to compete with Him only to get reduced time and again? We only learn what Mary “pondered” in her heart because the Bible tells us so. You and I don’t have a clue what’s going on inside any other person.

The Holy Spirit is plenty capable of setting us straight. Much like a headline from 1984 when several newspapers reported on a woman who came home to find her husband in the kitchen, shaking frantically with what looked like a wire running from his waist towards the electric kettle. Intending to jolt him away from the deadly current, she whacked him with a handy plank of wood upside the head. Until that moment, he had been happily listening to the Rolling Stones on his Sony Walkman.

Such checks with reality should always be welcomed, even when they hurt.

The Christmas season typically shrinks our interactions down to those with whom we are closest, predominantly family members. By way of reminder, the Bible refers to Christians’ relationships with one another as brothers and sisters, I.e., family members. Friends we choose, family we get stuck with. The implication is that we better learn to get along. I imagine most of you have one such family member with whom you’re at odds. Maybe you’re justified for being ultra-upset, but I doubt to the degree that you are (a point with which you agree, I bet) until you next brush shoulders and he or she says that “thing” that sets you off again.

Be that as it may, I suggest you stick with the knowns rather than the unknowns when seeking a resolution to any conflict. That’s the best advice I can give. Deal with the concrete, the objective, not the subjective, like what his or her secret motivation is, hidden agendas, etc. 99% of the time, such assumptions are misguided and unfounded. Personal experience over the course of your lifetime has taught you as much.

And you know what? Please keep in mind how Jesus referred to us, His followers: Not as family, but as friends. Don’t you see what that means! He chose us to be His friends even when we weren’t real likable. In fact, we’re the ones He laid His life down for. That’s the best kind of love ever, wouldn’t you say? More than kisses in a box…Christ is love wrapped up in flesh. Is it worth being angry at someone else in that context? I doubt it. I think today is an excellent time for you to let it go.

Jesus said, for those who have ears to hear, let them hear.

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By George Shamblin Book News, Family & Friends, Uncategorized 0 Comments