Unwrapping the Gift
Finding Peace in His Presence
As we were entering the Christmas season, I was so excited about the things on our family’s schedule—the Christmas parties, the baking of sweet goodies, and all the wrapping of special gifts that were picked out with specific people in mind. Yet, there were times when I looked at the calendar and felt overwhelmed. I must confess that I often want things to be perfect. But what happens when things don’t go as planned? When there are not enough cookies or when you forget that one necessary ingredient needed to make your grandma’s special recipe for the famous apple crisp.
I found myself in that very situation last Christmas. I had so many things I wanted to do, but I didn’t have the ability or time to accomplish them all. Thankfully, I had some sweet friends who stepped in to help with the things that truly needed to get done. Their support was a blessing, yet I couldn’t shake the disappointment of leaving undone the things I had wanted to do—those little touches I thought would make everything perfect.
But God had different plans for me. He had prepared a unique gift—one I didn’t expect. It was the gift of presence—the stillness of sitting before the Lord and soaking in the goodness of an intimate relationship with Him. In that stillness, I felt my soul settle. I was reminded that this life is not about perfectly checking off my to-do list; it’s about knowing Him and sharing His love with others.
One of the many names of Jesus is Emmanuel, which means "God is with us" in Hebrew. God sent His one and only Son so He could be with us. Scripture reminds us that Christ came and died for us while we were still sinners. Through His sacrifice, we can be reconciled to our Heavenly Father and look forward to being in His presence for eternity, unhindered by anything.
In the Gospels, we see many people choosing to sit in the presence of Jesus rather than being preoccupied with worldly tasks. Other times, we see people who did not hear and act on the invitation to sit in the presence of the Lord. The common theme of all the situations is that God always extends the invitation to us.
The account of Mary and Martha is a perfect example of how Jesus extended invitations to two sisters. When Jesus visited their home, we learn that the two sisters were close to Him and His disciples. I can imagine how much they must have wanted His visit to be perfect—the food perfectly seasoned, the table set just right.
But as the story unfolds, Martha is busy with all the preparations while Mary sits at the feet of Jesus, listening to Him speak. Martha, frustrated by her sister’s lack of help, asks Jesus, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” (Luke 10:40, NIV).
Whenever I read this passage, I always imagine a little attitude in Martha’s voice—thinking she’s about to hear Jesus side with her and tell Mary to get to work. But Jesus responds in a way that Martha, and perhaps many of us, could not have anticipated.
He says, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41-42, NIV).
One thing that stands out in this passage is that Jesus doesn’t say Martha’s tasks are meaningless or that the sisters are off the hook for being hospitable. Instead, He shifts the focus to what truly matters. Jesus knew His time on earth was limited. He was preparing His followers for a time when He would no longer be with them physically, equipping them to go out and share the good news of eternal life through Him. Mary was right where she needed to be.
Like Martha, we often feel the pressure to make everything picture-perfect. But Jesus’s words remind us to focus on what truly matters. This might mean setting aside time to pray, pausing to listen to a loved one, or choosing rest over perfection when the to-do list feels overwhelming. Savor the sweet gift of our Redeemer’s presence!
