I normally try not to have expectations.
The reason for this is because I am a very dramatic person, so normally my
expectations are fairly grandiose, and of course, they’re let down quite
tragically because they were too high in the first place.
I have this problem particularly when I
give gifts. I’m not one to give gifts too quickly. A lot of this has to do with
the fact that I’m pretty selfish and frugal and I get anxious when I have to
spend money on gifts. That’s why I normally try to give things that are
meaningful and fairly cheap. An example of this is last years Christmas gifts
to my family.
I got each member a picture frame with a
picture of the two of us together. Then I wrote a heartfelt note about how much
they mean to me and how I love them. This was quite a success and I had both my
parents crying. I was quite proud of myself.
On other occasions there are gifts that
I’ve given and (to me), they seem unappreciated. I go into this whole gift
giving thing thinking that the receiver of my gift is going be so moved that
they’ll cry and say, “How can I ever repay you”!
You see? I’m quite dramatic. I’m not saying
my friends aren’t grateful for the gifts I’ve given them; I just expect more of
a reaction.
But this got me thinking a little bit…
about the gift of Jesus. Sometimes I wonder if God feels the way I feel about
my gift giving…. Underwhelmed. Here God sent His Only Son to earth to live
among men, be pursued and tempted by the devil (which didn’t even phase Him and
therefore He is the ONLY perfect human being), to be crucified on a cross and
tormented by bearers of his image, and then to rise from the dead carrying our
sins upon his shoulders. And yet, do I thank God for the grace he’s given me
through his son? No.
I mean I do thank God for this gift, but do
I thank Him in a way that is appropriate and glorifying to Him? I don’t think I
do, at least not in the way he deserves.
