The Gift

Dear Friends,

I had a dear great-aunt who loved to give gifts at Christmas. We did not see her often, so I was surprised when we arrived at her home and she had a gift for me. I tore open the wrapping paper and, inside the box… socks and Scooby-Doo underwear. I was four or five years old, so this was awesome.

As the years went on and I had a chance to visit that special aunt from time to time, she always had a gift waiting for me. You guessed it—socks and Scooby-Doo underwear. By this point, I was in my twenties, so the awesomeness of the gift had long since vanished. She meant well. It had been so long that she did not know what I liked or needed. She simply did not know me well enough to give me the perfect gift.

Many of us pride ourselves on getting that “perfect gift” for someone—the gift they really want or truly need. And of course, we all enjoy receiving that “perfect gift,” the one that really impacts us and makes our Christmas special.

While it may be difficult, even frustrating, to find that truly perfect gift, we are reminded that there is One who gives the perfect gift every time, to everyone: God. Even to those who have never spent time with Him, He knows each of us so well that He gives us exactly what we need—the perfect gift, the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ.

Scripture tells us, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

The question for us is this: what will we do with the gift we have been given? Do we allow Christ to impact our lives, and are we prepared to share this perfect gift with others who need to receive it? Surely, we all know someone who needs the gift of Christ. And remember, it is never too late to give the perfect gift.

It is such pure joy for me to be a part of the Bethesda community and to share the gift of Christ with so many people this Christmas season. There truly is no better place to be before, during, and after Christmas than Bethesda-by-the-Sea and with all of you.

Blessings,

Joseph E. Sanelli

Parish Administrator