Best Gift Ever!

BEST GIFT EVER!!!!

So that might be a slight exaggeration.  I have probably said something like that before and likely to say it again but at that moment, the delight of my heart cried out "Best Gift Ever!"  I had gone to work at the preschool, anticipating the craziness of the last day before the Christmas holiday and there it was with a big Red bow, my very own blue VW Bus!

You see I have this little "thing" about VW buses.  I have wanted one for years.  I grew up in a VW bug and missed riding around in the family VW bus by less than a year.  The family ownership of that vehicle was short lived and comes with a interesting family story. However for as long as I can remember, I have loved the VW bus.  I remember as a small child camping with my family in our usual fashion, VW bug and a tent. On one particular trip we camped next to a family with a VW bus with the pop up top. They gave us a "tour" and I knew then, I wanted such a classy mode of transportation. At one point in my adult life, I actually considered trading in my little zippy red car for a VW bus.  However friends convinced me that the extra hour it would take me to get to work due to it's speed might not be worth it.  None the less, the thrill of passing such a vehicle has not ceased.  A man somewhere in my neighborhood has a red VW bus and occasionally drives by my house. The sight and sound gives me a thrill every time!

This little passion is not a secret but I must say that I don't think anyone has offered to give me one before. That is until now.  I have a friend who is one of those folks who is gifted about "gifting."  She is thoughtful and creative and comes up with gifts that are so "right on". I think it has something to do with her quietness and her keen sense of observation.  I knew that as Christmas drew near, she would have some thoughtful gift.   But this - this was too much!  I couldn't stop grinning and telling my friends about my very own VW Bus.  I even let some of my friends take it for a spin.  I am still grinning now as I see it parked at my house.   It represents a longing fulfilled.  It is also about having a friend that really gets me. This was a gesture so dear.

I have been thinking about this today.  At Christmas there is a lot of energy put into giving gifts.  Often this is done to fulfill a sense of obligation or expectation.  We give the gift card so that person can get what they want.  We give the gift we want because well we can't imagine that they would want anything else. We give anything just to say "we gave a gift." No matter the gift or even it's particular motivation it is always nice to be the recipient of a gift. And all kinds of gifts communicate love and appreciation. But there is nothing like the gift that says "I know you. I want to delight you.  I want to share in the joy of your heart."  

I believe that is what God offers us.  Everyday He gives us gifts that say, "I know you. I want to delight you. I want to share my joy with you."  But I know I so often miss it.  I am so worried about what I will "give him" in an effort to repay or fulfill my sense of obligation to Him. I am often so consumed with guilt and shame that I don't "give Him enough nor do enough" such that I miss His daily gifts.  For example, today I do not have to go into work until  3 pm. I have this day at home. I know this is a gift as I love being at home during the day to putz about the house and just take care of home stuff.  But there is also this nagging fear that I might be wasting time when I should be doing something else more meaningful or important.  There is this guilt of all the stuff I haven't done yet and think I should have. There is self hatred that I stayed up reading too late and thus slept in too late. Those feelings can so easily overshadow the gift and the giver of "my morning at home." Oh that I might be able to daily see the gift and shout "best gift ever!" May I not miss the gift and the Giver who takes delight in giving me the delights of my heart.  May you today see the gift that he is giving you and enjoy your "best gift ever!"

Yesterday's BEST GIFT EVER!!!!