Unexpected gifts

I love gifts. What about you?  Do you appreciate those unexpected gifts that make life a bit easier? As we grow older, we realize that gifts do not have to have material value.  Sometimes it may be the gift of extra time on your schedule. When your schedule clears you discover you are able to share special time with a loved one.

Around the Christmas holiday, consumers may be captured by the frenzy of Black Friday Sales, Cyber Sales, Green Monday Sales, Buy Black Monday Sales, and After Christmas Sales. Bargain shoppers are able to enjoy many discounts and half price sales.

Sometimes we may discover gifts we don’t want to unwrap.

One on line article describes suffering as a gift from God.

“No one likes to think of suffering as a gift of God. Often people use the circumstances around them as a way of determining whether or not God is pleased with them. Too often, people think that if things are going well then God must be pleased with them and if things are not going well then it must mean that God is trying to get their attention or punishing for something they had done.”

Unknown Author

Suffering in the midst of holidays is difficult. Suffering may take shape in many ways. It may be an unexpected death of a loved one, misunderstandings between friends, a failed pregnancy, financial difficulties, or illness.

Yet, in the midst of suffering, we may discover God’s presence afresh.  We may sense the comfort and peace of God. Friends may offer help. Neighbors may offer meals.

If we look for an example of how to handle suffering… we have a perfect model in our Savior the Lord Jesus.