For this to make much sense you’ll have to read last week’s article. If you don’t have access to it, I shared a fictitious story about land of Puzzling Tales. And in the Land of Puzzling Tales the unexpected always happened. For example, rather than snow and below zero temperatures in December, it would be warm and balmy (oh to live in the Land of Tales). It was also in the Land of Tales that when it was someone’s birthday, you would actually give a birthday gift to another person who wasn’t having a birthday. Yes, seems a bit puzzling and unexpected, and yet that’s exactly what we do to celebrate Jesus birthday; we give gifts to each other when it isn’t our birthday.

So here was my challenge for last week. Often times during the season we celebrate the gifts that Jesus gives us, the gifts of hope, peace, joy, love and salvation, but what if this advent season we focused on gifts we could give Jesus. And so continuing the thought from last week, did you come up with a list of things you could give Jesus this year?

As I was thinking about it this week, I began to wonder, what gift do you give to the person who already has everything. I thought; kind of cheesy to give Jesus some cash, although donations to worthy ministries can certainly be a way to advance the kingdom. Maybe I could get him a gift card to Home Depot—maybe he could use it to purchase some things to finish my mansion in heaven.

As I continued thinking about what gift I could give Jesus for his birthday, I remember asking my mom what she wanted for Christmas. And for some reason, I can still picture her saying, “The best gift you could give me is for you kids to get along.” Apparently from her perspective, my three siblings and I didn’t always enjoy sweet fellowship together.

As my thoughts continued, I realized one of the greatest gifts I could give Jesus for his birthday is to do my part in making sure I live at peace with my brothers and sisters. And not only with my brother and sisters by blood, but the best gift I could give Jesus, as far as it depends in me, is to live in harmony with my brothers and sisters in Christ as well.

As Paul wrote in Ephesians 4, ¹I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. ²Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. ³Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace….  ²⁹Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. ³⁰And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. ³¹Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. ³²Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

As I conclude this article, I remember how God worked through Nelson Mandela to bring unity to his country. My prayer is that God would work through all of us as we await Jesus’ second coming to be peacemakers where there is disunity in our relationships.

Bring the gift of unity and peace, Mike

In the land of Puzzling Tales there lived an eight year old boy by the name of Jason. Now in this land and in the neighborhood where Jason lived, the unexpected always happened. Instead of football they played kneeball; instead of the children “going to school” the teachers were busy “going to homes;” and in the summer it was not uncommon to see water freeze and in the winter time leaves grew on trees. It was a funny, strange place.

One incident in the land of Puzzling Tales stands out. When it was time for Jason’s ninth birthday, as usual, the unusual happened.  Jason’s grandparents drove all the way across the state to help celebrate, but of course when they got to Jason’s neighborhood they went immediately to the Browns down the street and visited and stayed there.

When Jason’s mother finished frosting the birthday cake she gave it to the mailman to eat. And when all the kids in the neighborhood heard it was Jason’s birthday they exchanged gifts with one another, and of course, Jason got none because he wasn’t even invited to the party.

There was a blizzard of birthday cards. The post office had to hire extra workers to work long hours to handle the deluge of cards. Of course in the land of  Puzzling Tales the expected was the unexpected and the kids, the moms and dads, grandparents, even a couple of dogs and a parakeet got cards, while poor Jason got none.

Finally about nine o’clock, in a fit of frustration and anger, Jason went out of his house, borrowed the school cheerleaders’ megaphone, rode up and down the street on his unicycle and shouted at the top of his lungs, “WHOSE BIRTHDAY IS IT, ANYWAY?” And the night was so silent that all night long echoes bounced off the mountain sides: “Whose birthday is it anyway?” “Whose birthday is it anyway?”

(The story about Jason was written by the Revered Arley Fadness of Shaloam Lutheran Church in Harrisburg, South Dakota)

Do you suppose there’s someone else who feels like Jason? In a few short weeks we will celebrate Jesus’ birthday, and yet isn’t it puzzling how every year we have to remind ourselves to stay focused on the “reason for the season.” Where did we get the idea that we should give other people gifts on Christmas? Wouldn’t it have been strange if the shepherds out in the fields and the magi would’ve had a $5 gift exchange instead?

If we celebrate Jesus’ birthday shouldn’t he be the one who receives the gifts? Often times during the advent season we focus on the gifts he brings us, the gifts of hope, peace, joy and love. But what if this advent season we focused on what kind of gifts we could give to Jesus. Like me, maybe you could sit down for a few minutes and think about the four best gifts we could give to Jesus. If you could give Jesus anything in the world, what four gifts would he appreciate most from you?

Here’s a starter: “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me…I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” Matthew 25:35,36,40

Grace and peace to you, Mike