[Disclaimer: While I like to describe the crazy gifts I’ve gotten, that does not mean that I appreciate them any less.]

I have this crazy aunt who is an artist- and a good one at that. Her Christmas and birthday gifts always keep us on the edge of our seats.  We have recieved jewelry with wired in rocks, purses, giant yarn socks with rubber on the bottom, and vests. One year my grandmother pulled out this giant fur coat that looked like the prior animal had mange. Luckily, it was a joke. For graduation, I got this picture frame with “Ole’ Sarge” on it and the Aggie war hymn.  I was the queen at buying useless gifts. I once bought a hermit crab as a going away gift for a girl that wouldn’t touch it. I think it died shortly thereafter. I used to buy themed gifts so whatever was in the theme, I bought it. Even if it was just going to sit there. Heck, for the wedding I went to on Saturday, I bought a “cookie jar” and home baked some cookies. Ghetto, I know. (My dad likes to say that’s “Ghe-toe”.)

Luckily for you all, I did not inherit my bad gift giving skills from God. In Luke 11, Jesus poses the famous questions, “Which of you, if your child asks for bread, would give him a snake?….If you are sinful and you know how to give good gifts to your kids, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?” God knows what you need. God knows what you want. God knows exactly what to give you. In my favorite show, they always talk about “trusting the Starting Over process”.  Sometimes it’s hard for us to trust God’s life process. He’s going to give us things and not give us things. It is so important that we come to understand this. We need to trust God to provide. We need to be sure that He won’t give us a fish bowl when we ask for peace.