The Unexpected Gift

Daily Gratitude Year Six-Day 358:Today, I am grateful for the unexpected gift.

The Christmas season finds us looking through flyers, on commercials and everywhere we go for the perfect gifts for gift giving. We are easily consumed with trying to give the perfect gift. As we grow older, it is much more about giving than receiving. We want to bring joy. 

This season, I find that some of the best gifts are the unexpected ones. A coffee mug that says, "Start each day with a grateful heart", a beautiful bouquet of flowers and gift bag with comfort and joy in the form of a manicure and a blanket. Each was completely unexpected, thus each gift felt extravagant. 

The song "Be Born In Me" continues to be my Earworm's song to sing this Christmas season. One of my favorite lines is this: "Did you wrap yourself inside the unexpected so we might know that Love would go that far?"  

Isn't it true? God wrapped himself in our skin so that he might truly understand our human frailty and weaknesses. He came to be one of us... and with us. He arrived in an unexpected package and most missed Him. 

On this Christmas Eve, are we at risk of missing our moment at the manger?

This TRUE STORY happened to my sweet cousin Molly Clyden. She and her daughter, Lexi. They received an unexpected gift at Aldi yesterday. 

Molly was standing in the checkout lane at Aldi, trying to get a rough estimate on her grocery bill. She knew she only had $x.xx dollars to spend.  She was a little worried it might not be enough and was thinking on what what she could put back, if needed. There were only two checkout lanes open and plenty of shoppers. 

Molly looked over in the next lane and noticed an older gentleman with only three items in his hand. The lady in front of him had a huge cart full. Molly invited him to cut in front of her, since he didn't have much.  Molly explained she wasn't in a hurry. He told her he wasn't either, and he didn't mind waiting. Molly insisted, so he finally gave in and checked out  in front of her. 

The man said "Thank-you" and flashed a smile. When Molly finished unloading her cart, she heard him say something to the cashier. Molly couldn't hear what he said, but the next thing she knew, the cashier said, "Oh, it's all together!" and started ringing up my items. Confused Molly looked up and the man said "Merry Christmas, this one's on me." And he paid for her entire order! 

Molly stood there in shock... almost speechless...  and practically in tears. Of course, she told him "Thank you!" and kept insisting he didn't have to do what he did. Then Molly said "Well, can I at least give you a hug?" He said "Of course". Then he whispered in her ear "A good deed never goes unnoticed. Have a very Merry Christmas." 

Molly was fairly sure the customer behind her and the cashier had tears in their eyes as well. This man was a beacon of hope, goodness and love. Molly will never forget how he made her feel. I love that she offered a hug. Her hug may have been worth more that the price of the groceries to that kind and gentle man. Her gift to him was intended to save him a few minutes. His gift to her was unexpected and will be forever written on her heart. (Love you, Molly!  Thanks for letting me share this story)

On this Christmas Eve, don't let the unexpected gifts slip by unnoticed. Savor the sweetness of the still, silent night. Listen for angel choirs. This holy night changed everything for all of us who believe and receive. Remember the shepherds who experienced the unexpected gift of an angel announcement, a choir song and a star to guide them to Baby Jesus. 

"They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherd's’ story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them."-Luke 2:16-19

It was just as the angel had said. And, sweet Mary, kept all of these things and pondered them in her heart. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7ClXvC1HVM&t=238s

Today, I am grateful for the unexpected gift.