Guess What?

Guess What?

The free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 6:23

The story is told that before Christmas one year the kindergarten teacher was inundated with gifts from her little students.

The florist’s daughter presented her with a package. The teacher shook it, held it over her head, and said, “I think I can guess what it is—some flowers!”

“You’re right!” said the little girl. “But how did you know?”

“Oh, it was just a guess,” she said with a smile.

The next student was the son of a candy store owner. The teacher held the gift over her head, shook it, and said, “I think I can guess what this is—a box of candy!”

“That’s right! But how did you know that?” asked the boy.

“Oh, just another good guess,” said the teacher, smiling.

The next gift was from a little boy whose father managed the local cola bottling company. When the teacher picked up the box, it began leaking. She smiled and asked the boy, “Is it orange soda?”

“Nooo,” the boy replied.

The teacher tried again: “Is it lemon-lime soda?” she asked.

“Nooo,” the boy answered.

The teacher then said, “Well, I can’t guess this one. I give up. What is it?”

The boy grinned and replied, “It’s a puppy!”

—Jennifer Hahn

As Jennifer points out with this story, sometimes we receive gifts that surprise us, gifts that we might not even want. The Christmas season is one of those times when we may receive a variety of gifts—some we are excited to get; others we’re not.

And yet it’s important to be thankful for the giver if not especially for the gift. As the old adage says, “It’s the thought that counts.” Even more, it’s the one who thought to bless us with his special gift that counts.

Father, we are so grateful to you for your gifts of love and sacrifice that came to us wrapped not in shiny paper and glistening bows but in bloody rags. May we always remember that special tree and the gift—your Son, Jesus Christ—that hung upon it. Amen.