Good Things Come in Little Packages

As I walk through the stores and begin to see all of the Christmas ornaments, the trees, the nativity scenes (which sadly are scarce this year), and begin to hear the sounds of Christmas floating through the air, I can't help but be taken back many, many years to the time I spent in children's choir. The choir was named “Beginning Angels” (a name I'm not sure we ever lived up to during practices) and our director was Mrs. Betty Bounds, a very sweet woman of God. Every Christmas, we would wrap up as presents and sing a little jingle that went something like this:

“Good things come in little packages, little packages, yes sire'.

Good things come in little packages just like me!

I'm easy to wrap, just take a scrap,

of paper and a teeny-tiny bow, oh!

I'm easy to hide, just look inside,

won't be very long until you know, oh, oh, oh,

Good things come in little packages, little packages, yes sire'.

Good things come in little packages underneath the tree.”

I know there are more lyrics, but I cannot recall them. And for once in my life the internet has failed me miserably, as I cannot locate them anywhere! But as I hear this sweet little jingle in my head (and reminisce on the embarrassing pictures and videos of a chubby-faced little preschooler with a very boy-like haircut, wrapped in a box looking something like a Christmas present, swaying back and forth with sealed lips while the music plays in the background...yes, me), I can't help but to think of all the times I have heard in the past, and will hear this Christmas season, about that “big gift!” Every kiddo seems to have their list made months in advance, filled with all kinds of books, toys, clothes, electronics, candy, etc., but there always seems to be that one giant gift that every child wants. It may not be the same across the board, but it's always on the top of the list and in the forefront of the child's mind, for months and months. But why? What is it about a big present? Is it the competition, and the “need” to have a bigger package under the tree than everyone else? Is it a feeling of superiority? Or maybe it temporarily fills a void, and makes one feel important. Whatever the reason, I am not really sure.

As I begin to think of some of my favorite things, many of them come in little packages. Though they are not physically big, they seem to have so much more meaning at the time, in spite of their tiny stature. So, I've put together a little list of just a few of the “little packages” that have made me smile throughout the recent years. It looks something like this:

1. A beautiful engagement ring, in a tiny black box.
2. A doll-house model of a grand piano, because my Me-Mom was going to get me one no matter what, even if it wasn't the real thing!
3. A 4x6 picture album, containing a picture from each of my birthdays, with the letters and notes I had written to my Granny.
4. A box filled with what I thought was just newspaper, only to get to the bottom to find a large plastic grasshopper...thank you, Joseph :)
5. A note from a student about the difference I had made in her life, decorated with candy canes and stars, because that's all she could afford to get Mrs. Baker for Christmas.
6. A single red rose
7. A box of hot cocoa and peppermint sticks
8. A tiny glass music box, in the shape of a piano.
9. A “thinking of you card” that showed up anonymously in the mail, with a $400 gift card inside...when we were hurting financially and we thought no-one knew.
10. A note from a friend, passed in the hall between classes (and sometimes during class).

The list could continue on and on... As I think about all the things in life that seem to have had the most significance to me, they have all come in little packages. And as Christmas approaches, I think of the greatest gift of all, my Jesus. He didn't come to save the world as a highfalutin king. He didn't ride in on chariots in a big parade and celebration. He wasn't born to royalty and didn't sit on a golden throne, with a golden scepter in His hand, wearing purple silk robes. He came in a little package. He came as a baby, a teeny-tiny helpless little life. He came in a stable, among horses and cattle and pretty stinky surroundings. He came to a frightened teenage girl, and her trembling husband-to-be. I can look through my list, and I can be thankful for the earthly things that have come in little packages, but at the top of my list would have to be the precious gift of life; a life that came with the purpose of dying, for you and for me. A tiny little bundle that would one day willingly hang on a cross so that I wouldn't have to, and neither would you. A life that, though sinless, would take upon Himself my sin, and yours. A tiny little package God gave us that very first Christmas. Why a tiny package? Why a baby? Why a stable? I think maybe, just maybe, God was trying to teach us something. It's not about the size of the package, the price tag in the store, the amount of paper it takes to wrap it, the length of time it takes to save up for it, or the amount of joyous chaos and excitement it creates when it's opened. It's about the heart behind it, the heart of the giver. It's about the purpose of the package, the motive behind the gift. It's about the eternal effects, not the happiness of the moment. It's about Jesus!

Does this make my list void? Does the realization of Jesus being the only important gift diminish the excitement I have for the other “little packages” I have been given? Absolutely not! It is because of my Jesus that I can find joy in the small things! It is because of my relationship with Jesus that my heart is able to see the abundance I have, when others may say I have nothing. It is because of the number one gift on my list, the teeny-tiny little baby born over two-thousand years ago, that I can turn around and praise Him for everything that comes in line underneath.

With that said, I would like to end by adding one more “little package” to my list. You see, God doesn't have to bless us with things, he chooses to when His children listen to and heed His voice. I am so excited that over 20 years later, God is allowing me to sing, “Good things come in little packages,” about one more thing...

God chose two and half years ago to bless us with our beautiful son, Nathanael. Back in July, God chose to take away a precious little one, who is now in His arms in Heaven. But, God, in His goodness, has chosen yet once again to give us the precious gift of life! Though Nate has a sibling up in heaven, he is going to be a big brother here on earth! We have a “baby in the tummy,” as Nate would tell you (and I'm surprised hasn't slipped out over the past few weeks!) Our “little package” is due to join our family the end of May/beginning of June, next year. We have had the blessing of seeing a heart beating steady and strong for the past couple of weeks, and an inch-long little miracle, measuring perfectly. And today we experienced the joy of hearing a very strong little heart beating extremely fast!

So, you see....good things still come in little packages :)