Zach, my kindergarten kid, had his first solo Christmas shopping experience last week.  Vanda gave him money because his school provided a little shop with inexpensive things for the students to buy for their loved-ones.  Zach took to it nicely.  In fact, a little too nicely.  He ran off the school bus and up the steps to our home to show Vanda the wrapped gift he had purchased for her.  It was reminiscent of an early scene in the movie Ace Ventura, where the pet detective (Jim Carey) disguised himself as a UPS guy.  He delivered a package marked “fragile”, but dropped and kicked it several times – accompanied by the sound of shattering glass.

Apparently, Zach’s gift was a mug (but don’t tell Zach that we know).  He’s still proud of his accomplishment and even insists that Vanda open it before Christmas.  The joy of giving is in the boy.  I only hope he’s not too disappointed when Vanda opens a broken Christmas gift.

The gift has no less value to Vanda, even though it’s broken.  That’s just like God.  He wants us to be as excited as Zach when we offer him the gift of ourselves, even if the gift is broken.  Actually, broken gifts are the only ones he accepts.

It doesn’t matter that the gift isn’t perfect.  The last thing Vanda needs is another mug.  The extreme value is found in her boy’s love for her.

 ”I learned God-worship when my pride was shattered. Heart-shattered lives ready for love don’t for a moment escape God’s notice.”

Psalm 51:17, The Message