And she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

Luke 2:7

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you, he is the Messiah, the Lord.

Luke 2:11

My grandmother loved to give everyone in the family Christmas gifts. As much as possible she made them by hand. She might make house shoes, hot pan holders, or doilies. She might even go so far as to buy a pair of socks for each of the guys.

To get to our treasured item we had to open her wrapped package. Our gift might come wrapped in a saltine cracker box, or a ritz cracker box, or a cereal box – not typically what most people use for a present. The uncommon gift box never took away from the meaningful gift each one held though. It actually added to our delight.

Just as the gift boxes my grandmother chose surprised us, so did Jesus’s humble beginnings surprise many people. They hoped for the birth of a King – the Messiah. Prophecy for years told of his coming. They eagerly awaited his glorious and majestic entrance into the world. 

Very few expected the birth to happen in such a humble setting. They did not imagine him wrapped in torn strips of cloth or resting on a bed of straw. 

But God knew, he knew the significance of the gift he gave. He wrapped it up just so.

Guess who got to celebrate his birth first? Not kings in castles, but common shepherds from nearby fields viewed him. They did not seem to mind his “cracker box” beginning at all. They did not allow the “packaging” to deter from the treasure the manger held. The shepherds worshipped him and spread the news of his birth.

Likewise, this year, may we not get caught up in the trappings and wrappings of the holiday season. May we value the treasure of the Savior and truly worship him. May we share the joy of our salvation with others just as the shepherds did.

God, thank you for the birth of Jesus. Thank you for your precious gift of our Savior and Lord.

Susan P.