Gifts Under The Piano

I teach Bible study in my home every other Thursday.
I have been studying the Bible with some of these sweet women for over fifteen years.
Every other week works well for all of us.
The women make Bible study a priority.

This past Thursday, the weather looked iffy.
We have had frigid temperatures.
Snow squalls. with no accumulation, were in the forecast.
Directions for slow travel in the morning were given.

I started to hear from some of the women.
Some were choosing to miss Bible study rather than drive here in the morning.
I made the decision the night before to cancel Bible study so that everyone would be safe.
I knew that if the weather amounted to nothing, I would be terribly disappointed.

Women responded to my email with gratitude.
Making the decision the night before would take away any uncertainty.
I woke up expecting to see a dusting of snow.
I woke up to the ground looking just as it did the night before.

There was nothing I could do.
Bible study was already cancelled.
Then the wind started to kick up.
The strong winds that were in the forecast did begin and knocked out power a few times.

I decided that I would take advantage of the day and wrap all the Christmas presents.
My husband carried the presents downstairs for me.
There are seventeen people in our family.
There were a lot of presents; they covered the farm table in my kitchen.

I separated them according to families.
I chose different wrapping paper for each family.
I wrapped all the presents at the kitchen island, which has a height that protects my back.
My husband was amazed at my system...Efficient, he said.

As I finished each family, I brought them into the living room to be near the tree.
However, I knew my daughter and four of my grandchildren were coming the next day.
I didn’t want presents under the tree right now, since my youngest grandson is walking.
I decided to put the presents under the baby grand piano.

Family by family, the presents went under the piano.
I made sure that all of my six grandchildren’s presents were tucked against the wall.
They were far back from little hands and eyes.
I forgot the agility of children, especially when they are motivated.

My daughter and four grandchildren came for dinner.
The children immediately ran into the living room to see the Christmas tree.
There were oohs and aahs as they found favorite ornaments and decorations.
Then they saw the presents under the piano.

Are there any for us, Grandma? They asked, already knowing the answer.
Yes, there are, I answered, but no peeking.
The oldest one, who is in first grade and already reading, pointed to the sign.
A metal country sign, hanging on the porch door near the tree says: NO PEEKING.

Quick as a flash, my two granddaughters, age six and four, had climbed under the piano.
They did not move any boxes.
They simply wanted to see what names they could read from that vantage point.
They found the presents wrapped in special paper for my grandchildren; they were satisfied.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

We give presents at Christmas because God gave the gift of His Son, Jesus.
Jesus was not wrapped in any elaborate paper.
Jesus had no bow or decoration to make Him stand out.
God wrapped Jesus in the body of a baby, just like us, but without sin.

He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
(Isaiah 53:2)

There was nothing shiny to catch our eye.
Even if we peeked, we would have missed Him.
God gave the ultimate present.
Sadly, for many, the gift of His Son, Jesus, remains unopened.

I can’t imagine my grandchildren never opening their presents.
I can’t imagine the boxes staying pristine and intact.
I know that on Christmas Day the presents will be torn open with paper all over the room.
That’s as it should be: gifts are meant to be opened and enjoyed.

This Christmas, take notice.
God’s Gift is there for all who believe.
God’s Gift is not there to gather dust on a shelf.
God gave so that we can receive the Gift of His Son.

What a Christmas it will be when God’s precious Gift is opened.
God in a box.   (read more about God’s gift)
Do you see Him there?
For God so loved…HE GAVE.