She was so excited!
There were presents wrapped in colorful paper and lots of curling red, yellow and white ribbon around them.
Who were they for?
What was in them?
She couldn’t wait to open them up.
Addie Sue was 3 at Christmas and was a delight to watch as she experienced the joys and surprises of Christmas.
“Do I have a present?” she asked. “Do I have another one?”
Now, you may think she is only interested in her gifts, but, no, it turns out she was just delighted to open the presents.
She and her mama had practiced wrapping presents and opening them. She had found things she liked among her belongings and carefully put them in little boxes, wrapped them up like gifts with her mama’s help, and put them under the tree.
After everyone had opened their gifts, and Addie had been busy helping hand out the gifts to the right people, she seemed a little sad.
Then she saw the things she had wrapped. She started unwrapping the mysterious boxes.
“O, my favorite red socks!” she exclaimed, as she opened one of her self-wrapped practice gifts.
We caught on and realized the joy she had in the sheer act of unwrapping the mysterious good things awaiting her in the colorful, beribboned boxes.
We all like to get good things, surprises, mysterious boxes wrapped beautifully and given to us to enjoy. Have you thought about the gifts that God has given you?
They are countless and marvelous. But there is one special thing God sent that we sometimes forget about.
When Jesus was giving instructions and teaching his disciples as He prepared to leave them, He told them in John 15:26-27: “I will send you the Helper from the Father. The Helper is the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father. When he comes he will tell about me. And you will tell people about me, too, because you have been with me from the beginning.”
The Holy Spirit, the Helper, the Paraclete, the Holy Ghost — whatever you call Him, He is part of the trinity and is always present for those who are Christians and have put their trust and faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior.
The Holy Spirit comes beside us to help us. He teaches us and advises us.
How are we convicted of our sins? By the Holy Spirit.
John 16:7-8 says, “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.”
The Holy Spirit is ever unfolding presents in our lives and is powerful and true as He reveals Christ and Truth.
Take time to “open” the gift of the Holy Spirit in your life and get to know Him; you will be changed!
