Greatest Gift by Brenda Joy
No matter how sure I am of my soul's foundation, the disposition of my heart still wanders. Honestly, my pride doesn’t want to admit just how often that happens. How often my heart finds its way into traps that promise happiness and end up enslaving. How easily good desires get tainted with a drop of selfish motivation.
I hate that. I hate that I try to cling to morality for right standing. That pride places me in a box of self-reliance. Yet, amidst the trappings that my heart gets entangled in, my need for something far bigger and greater is magnified. And I look up in failure and his forgiving and loving grace embraces my soul. Always. Without condemnation and without a hint of disapproval.
This does something to my heart, something the little girl inside of me still needs. It gives me security, gratitude, and peace and all I have to do is look around or open windows in my heart for memories of pain to flood through- to see the anguish that life can bring. To bring a subtle ache that reawakens that inner longing.
So as Christmas approaches and I pause to reflect on the true significance of that day. I’m relieved that we don’t have to wait for what the world was waiting for thousands of years ago —we don’t have to wait for the opportunity to look up and have our hearts delivered.
The baby in the manger was the one that would grow up in darkness and perfectly accomplish everything that we nor the law could ever accomplish for us. To take our place.
In this truth, my heart and affections are stirred for this long-awaited king, and still, my soul often fails to function out of the significance of this truth. God is not ignorant of that reality, nor of the darkness that my heart is pulled towards.
Leaving me, us, never without hope. This king is the only one who has proven himself greater. In him. In Jesus, our hearts can rejoice for we are saved from ourselves. We are saved from darkness, from legalism, from shame, and from enslavement. For our souls’ greatest gift is here. Jesus.
“But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” Luke 2:10-11
My name is Brenda Joy Hernandez. I grew up a Pastor’s kid in a small west Texas town and am now living the city life in Austin, Texas. I am an elementary school teacher and a lover of travel, sports, food, nature, and animals.