A few days before Christmas in 1981, my beloved came home with a great big present just for me. We were newlyweds, living on love and Tator Tots. I didn’t know what it was or how he had paid for it. He laid it gingerly under our sparsely decorated tree.
Not one time in my entire life had I ever sneaked to open a gift early, but this present was irresistible. The paper was pretty and called to me. I very carefully opened one end and found fur. I was over the moon.
It was the era of those fabulous rabbit fur coats. All the cool girls wore them; I had only dreamed of having one. I was quite positive this precious, wonderful gift was a fabulous rabbit fur coat.
Each time I passed the Christmas tree, I beamed, picturing myself in the fabulous rabbit fur coat.
Finally, on Christmas morning, it was time to exchange gifts. I graciously encouraged my new beloved to open all his gifts first, thinking of the glorious moment when I unwrapped my big gift with mock surprise.
He said, “I bet you don’t know what it is.”
I innocently smiled as if I didn’t have a clue. And boy oh, I didn’t.
I slowly opened one edge at a time, savoring the thought of the fabulous rabbit coat. One edge, another edge. And finally, there it was…A TEDDY BEAR!
It was not what I had expected at all. A teddy bear was not even on the radar. Truth be told, it was a better gift for me than a rabbit coat. I kept it for years and years.
The Christmas story is full of “unexpecteds.” Mary had an unexpected visitor and calling. Joseph had an unexpected turn of events. The shepherds had an unexpected journey. In each one, God was working. He was putting special, important puzzle pieces together.
We often find “unexpecteds” in our lives today – when our plan isn’t coming together as we had hoped. Going into the Christmas season, let’s keep our eyes open to how God is working, how He is pushing and directing, even when we are dragging our feet. Perhaps our “unexpecteds” are actually divine interruptions.
In every season, we can trust that the God of the Universe can work our unexpecteds into immeasurably more than we ask or dream (Ephesians 3:20). When the LORD declared in Isaiah 55:8-9, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” He wasn’t kidding. Still, He can be trusted.
If life has taken an unexpected detour, hang on. Commit to the LORD, talk to Him, spend time with Him, be encouraged by reading His Word. Trust Him.
Dig with me into the true story of Christmas. You will find most of it in Luke 2:1-20 and Matthew 1:18-25. I pray you will be swept away by the love of our Heavenly Father and be drawn to the Baby in the manger.