Gifts of Reality and Victory

One day when I was little, I found, as the surprise in my popcorn box, a tiny pair of scissors. But, how horrible! They would not open. They just lay there in my hand, a senseless, one-piece thing of cast metal. I felt put down and disgusted.

One Christmas after I had become an adult, I opened a gift to find a neat little pair of scissors—real scissors that opened and closed and cut beautifully! The gracious and suitable gift removed from me the dejection of the former fake.

I continue to use the real scissors with a sense of victory.

This same sense of victory is ours as we receive the real gifts that Jesus came into the world to give us: His love, His forgiveness of our sins, His joy, His guidance for a life that makes sense--and moreover, His assurance of life forever.

"'... the saying that is written will come true: 'Death has been swallowed up in victory.' Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ'" (1 Corinthians 15:54b,57 NIV).

Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, please enable us to live day by day, cherishing the gifts of your victorious Son. Amen.

Isabel Allison Roland, Manitoba, Canada

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