The Gift That Promises Forever

It wasn’t the gift I expected, but it promised forever.

On our second Christmas as a couple, I held a secret wish in my heart as I sat next to the Christmas tree. David and I planned to exchange vows in August of the coming year. In my mind, Christmas seemed like the ideal time for the question and the ring.

I opened my gift, a rectangular-shaped box wrapped in thick red paper. Inside the box, a gold slide bracelet sat atop soft velvet. On any other day, my excitement would have been hard to contain. However, because of my inflated expectations, I forced a smile.

David proudly pointed out the merit of his well-intentioned gift. With each year, he could add a new slide to the bracelet. He spoke of birthstones for our yet-to-be-born children and gems to mark special occasions. While his gift was not the ring, it still spoke of his promise to me. I would be his forever. The bracelet represented our future together.

Two weeks later, on New Year’s night, he knelt down in a lighted gazebo and asked for my forever. He slid a ring onto my finger, symbolizing a promise fulfilled. My Christmas bracelet dangled from my wrist as I stared at the ring that made me his.

Jesus wasn’t the Messiah the Israelites expected. He wasn’t born in a palace with religious and ceremonial fanfare. Rather, he made his appearance in a stable with only the working class shepherds to witness his birth. He lacked royal parents, riches, and influence, offering humility, poverty, and service instead.

Jesus didn’t teach the lessons people expected. Instead, he spoke of a promise wrapped in sacrifice. He turned everything upside down, making the last first and the poor rich. He proclaimed the righteous to be wrong because of the evils hidden in their hearts and elevated the lowly simply because they believed.

Jesus didn’t take the throne and rule the kingdom as the Jewish people expected. He knelt at the feet of sinners and served. He healed the untouchables and extended mercy to the outcasts. He turned over the tables of the religious and sat at sinners’ tables to dine.

Maybe today you are living a life you didn’t expect. Nothing is going the way you planned. Success eludes you while trouble follows close behind. When you try to stand on the side of right, everything goes wrong. You may feel like the gift life gave you isn’t everything you hoped it would be.

Wait for it, my friend. What is promised will be fulfilled. It’s true, Jesus wasn’t what we expected, but he is everything we need. He is the hope of what is still to come. He is the bracelet of promise, reminding us forever will come.

“So Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.” (Heb. 9:28 ESV)

Kelly Smith is a small town girl who married a small town man 17 years ago. She has three energetic blessings, ages 1 to 11. Her favorite indulgences are coffee, reading, writing, and running. Kelly believes we are created for community and loves to find ways to connect with other women who are walking in the shadow of the cross. She blogs at mrsdisciple.com.