Christmas Musing #28 They Came from Afar Part 3

¹¹ And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. Matthew 2:11 English Standard Version

               “I know what you’re going to say, Dad,” sighed one of my children.

               “Well, it’s true your presence is a present,” I replied, “I know that you’re not exactly flush with cash right now. Coming to visit us represents a sacrifice on your part and that means a lot to your mother and me. When things settle down and you’re able, you’ll give gifts. So, don’t worry about it.”

               “I just hate not being able to give because of a mistake that I made,” they moaned.

               “Well, we all make mistakes and that’s how we learn. Stop worrying about it and enjoy the season and the visit,” I said.

               “Okay, I will.”

               “Good, let’s not talk about it anymore.”

               We like to give gifts at Christmas. I enjoy going out and hunting and gathering, as Christy likes to say. The gifts need not be extravagant. Sometimes, a small insignificant gift means quite a lot. We enjoy providing loved ones with a tangible token of our love. It reminds them of the esteem in which we hold them. So, each Christmas, package, boxes, and bags appear underneath our tree. We continue a long tradition started by the Maji, exchanging gifts at Christmas.

               I like to think about the gifts of the Maji, not the symbolic nature of the gold, frankincense, and myrrh. I enjoy thinking about the love and honor the Maji showed through their gifts. I suspect that the Maji were men of means; after all they could afford a long trek. I think they were educated men. They knew enough to interpret the sign of the rising star. They were men of faith, responding to a dream and altering their return travel plans. The Western tradition says there were three men, Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthazar, though we do not know their names. I suppose we came up with three names because of the three gifts. What I like to meditate on is the care they must have shown in transporting these gifts all the way to Bethlehem. No handy Walmart or Target to run to at the last minute. No, these gifts were carefully chosen, packed, and carried quite some distance. These gifts represent honor and devotion, no gift-receipt needed.

               When we join in the tradition of giving gifts, we show our loved ones similar honor and devotion. That is why we say, “it is the thought that counts.” My child, who cannot afford to give me a gift, shows me honor and devotion by spending time with me, like the wise-men. They do not have the cash to pop open gold, frankincense, or myrrh…or the modern equivalent…but they will be here. You and I have nothing to offer the king, Jesus, Immanuel, but we can show up. We can worship. We can honor Him with our presence.