What Are You Holding? December 24, 2008

Yesterday I put on my Christmas shopping armor and ventured onto the Battlefield of Target. The objective – was to conquer the last few items on my shopping list.

After a couple hours, I emerged victorious. My shopping was complete! I closed the door; and as I sat waiting for the car to warm up in the parking lot, I realized the tangible objects in the bags behind me did not contain the most precious take-away. What made my heart dance with joy did not cost me a penny, yet I walked away with a beautiful picture of pure love.

The store was the setting of a classic Christmas shopping scene. People moved with urgency knowing their window of opportunity was closing. Looks of stress were evident on many faces. At the end of aisles shoppers engaged in Bumper Carts. A child asked in desperation, “How much longer?” The mom never answered. Another preschooler screamed, “I want that!”; then he would spot a different toy and demand, “I want that!” His intensity continued to escalate. As I pushed my cart in the opposite direction, I found myself irritated that the monster of materialism had such a strong grip on this young child already.

Before I wandered down that line of thinking too far, my mind was captivated by the image before me. I slowed down hoping to prolong the moment. I became oblivious to everything around me. Noise faded. Movement ceased. Potential gifts disappeared from the shelves. All my senses were singularly focused.

I was gazing at a grandmother holding her grandchild. They were on completely different ends of the age spectrum. One had grey hair and multiple wrinkles; the other had virtually no hair and the smoothest, softest skin. But they both had the same bright twinkle in their eyes. The baby amazed at the life around her. The grandmother amazed at the life she was holding. You could tell that the grandma desperately wanted to squeeze the baby to release the exploding sense of love trapped inside her. She refrained, however, and held her like priceless china. I watched her close her eyes as she placed her cheek against her grandbaby’s. She lingered. Then as if she was brought back to reality for a moment, she took a couple steps perhaps remembering she was supposed to be shopping. That didn’t last. Reality was trumped by love. She stopped, pulled her head back, and stared at her granddaughter like an artist studying and observing every detail before the brush touches the canvas. What she saw overwhelmed her and resulted in a very natural expression. This grandmother exuberantly kissed the baby’s cheek and a cheerful melody of I love yous followed.

Abruptly I snapped out of my mesmerized state and realized that this woman may be concerned about a complete stranger staring at her, especially when the stranger’s mouth was hanging wide open! So I forced myself to move on.

Sitting in the car, I wondered why I was so taken by this simple scene of a grandmother loving her grandchild. PRIORITIES. This woman focused on what was truly important. She wasn’t distracted by the pulls and pressures of today’s society that are so pervasive. She stood strong in the midst of the busyness and noise. She wisely concentrated on the joy that was already in her grasp.

My prayer this Christmas is that we would understand the joy we already hold. True gifts can’t be purchased….snow angels, laughter, the warmth of home, hugs, friends, family, my mom’s caramel apple pie. There are so many priceless gifts that don’t cost us a penny. But the most amazing gift of all is a relationship with our Heavenly Father generously given to us through Jesus Christ!

For the wages (cost) of sin is death, but

THE GIFT OF GOD

is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 6:23

MERRY CHRISTMAS!