“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

Christmas Gift Panic

“Found it! Here it is!” I pulled out the red felt Christmas stocking from the Christmas storage box. “Yippee! It’s the one with her name printed on it, and the cute reindeer and fluffy white trim.” As we drove to the airport, I stuffed the tiny poodle puppy into the top of the stocking. “Oh, she will be so excited! I can’t wait to see her face.” Our daughter was coming home after visiting her grandparents in California.

We quickly found our way to the gate to meet her. “Oh no, the puppy fell asleep and lodged deep into the toe of the stocking. I can’t get her out!” I began to panic. I turned the stocking upside down and tried shaking the puppy out of the toe into my husband’s hands cupped together to catch the little puppy. “The puppy is stuck in the toe. She must have suffocated! The puppy is dead! We can’t give her a dead puppy!” I panicked. Hot tears stung my face. “How could I have killed this precious little puppy?” I cried, “Please help, Lord!”

A crowd watching the scene had now gathered around, trying to help. “Does anyone have scissors?” someone yelled, feeling my urgency. That’s definitely not something anyone would have in an airport today!

We said another desperate prayer: “God, please help us. Please let the puppy live and come out of the stocking.” As we all continued in our efforts, we kept praying. Suddenly, the puppy seemed to stir and began to assist us in our plight. As we shook the stocking again and again, she worked her way to the top and fell into my husband’s hands.

“Aww,” came from the crowd in unison, clapping and relieved to see the puppy alive and well. Just then, the attention of the crowd turned toward the gate agent who was now opening the door to receive passengers.

Finally, our daughter ran out the gate with excitement. After hugs, I handed the stocking to her, tightly holding it at the middle in order to not repeat the previous scenario. As she peeked into the stocking, she squealed with delight, “It’s a puppy! It’s a puppy!”

Tears of joy came quickly, both from seeing my precious daughter again, and seeing that she was delighted with her gift, not to mention my sheer relief that the puppy was alive. I breathed a prayer of thanks to the Lord.

I wonder how often the Lord has to “shake us up a bit” to awaken us from our slumber so we can be the gift that God intended.

“Lord, may we be a gift to YOU that delights YOUR heart.”