What kind of gift opener are you? You may tear into the wrapping, caring little about the thought and care that went into taping the wrapping paper on straight or how the ribbon has been curled. Or you may ohhhhh and awahhhhh over the pretty paper, noticing the sprig of holly or the neatly printed gift tag adorning the top. Another question might be - what kind of gift opener would you like to be?
Christmas often comes in the rush of too many concerts, parties, cookie exchanges and trips to the mall that by the time you get to the Holy- day you're person #1 - tearing into the day with the traditional family breakfast followed closely by everyone tearing into their presents, more traditional menus to serve throughout the day, making the rounds to family or being the hostess with the mostest in your home. Maybe a church service in there somewhere?
This year I'd like to be more like person #2 and slowly unwrap my gift. I want to learn the background of the Giver, understand why I need this gift and see with eyes wide open how carefully it's been "wrapped" not at the last minute but just the opposite - lovingly, methodically, purposefully - for me. For you.
I love Ann Voskamp's writing! You have to read her slow or you won't get it. You have to stop every now and then and reread a line, a verse, a paragraph to comprehend her meaning. Her writing is poetic and conjures up a picture in your mind or an idea to be grasped.
She is not of my fellowship and there are times her theology contradicts mine. However, I consider her a sister in the faith and look forward to our unity in heaven! Until then, as far as my comments will go in regards to this book, you'll find an emphasis on the Means of Grace - the gospel in Word and Sacraments. For more information on my fellowship of believers you can go here.
So let's get started!
She explains why we would want to be person #2. "before you ever read of the birth of Jesus, you always have the genealogy of Jesus". If you show up just for Christmas - you'll miss the meaning! She goes on. "It's the way the Gift unwraps: you have Christ's family tree … before you have a Christmas tree. If you don't come to Christmas through Christ's family tree and you come into the Christmas story just at the Christmas tree - this is hard, to understand the meaning of his coming.
Because without the genealogy of Christ the limbs of His past, the branches of His family, the love story of His heart that has been coming for you since before the beginning - how does Christmas and its tree stand? Its roots would be sheared. Its meaning would be stunted. The arresting pause of the miracle would be lost." viii
If you've never before heard of a "Jesse Tree", don't be embarrassed! She goes on to refer to it's meaning a bit here but Day 1 will give us a chance to look at it more fully. I love how on the next page (ix) she explains what this has to do with you and me. "He grafts you into His line and His story and His heart, and He gives you His name, His lineage, His righteousness. He graces you with plain grace."
Each day in Advent, He gives you the gift of time, so you have time to be still and wait." (x)
Being still. I can sit still. I can appear still. But my mind? It goes a mile a minute!!!! I am sure this is not what God means when he says to "be still". But this is what I will attempt to do through this Advent, this "coming" of Christ. Being still in the Lord, in His word each day as I read each devotion and ponder the message of grace and forgiveness. Join me?
Make sure you've download those ornaments from her website using the code found in your book! Get them ready to put on whatever you've chosen to act as your Jesse tree.
I LOVED how she closes her "instructions" - "To make a Jesse Tree is to trace the family line and heritage of your own forever family - the family of God."(xiv) My family is one grown through adoption and we are a "forever family". What a fitting picture of our adoption through Christ as His daughters! See you on Sunday!
