Communication

Today I brought a maraca in my box. It was given to me this summer, when I was fortunate enough to travel to Cuba as part of a mission team from St. Mark's Church. While there we worked with our sister parish of St. Mary's in Itabo, Cuba to put together a Vacation Bible School for their children and youth. Each morning we enjoyed several hours of songs, Bible study, crafts and snacks with preschool and elementary age children, and after a break for lunch we did the same thing with teenagers in the afternoon. Although we had a wonderful translator with us, SMEDS graduate Cathy Hardin, most of us in the mission team spoke little to no Spanish. And most of the residents of Itabo spoke no English. Everything we did had to be either translated by Cathy, or worked out by communicating with a combination of limited Spanish and hand motions to indicate what we needed, or were going to be doing, or eating. It was challenging, but an incredibly rewarding experience.

Over the week, as we spent more and more time with the children, youth and adults at St. Mary's, an amazing thing started happen. Even with the language barrier, we began to understand each other. We shared information about our families. We learned what the volunteers there did for a living. We ate together and played together and prayer together and by the end of the week we had formed a wonderful community.

Our story today was about the Tower of Babel. Often the focus in that story is on the division of humanity into different cultural and ethnic groups. God splintered our language and made communication difficult so that we would separate and fill the earth. What I reminded the children, was that when we allow God to work through us, when we share God's love and grace with others, no communication barriers can keep us apart.

We can experience difficulty understanding each other without traveling to a  foreign country. Are there people in your life with whom you have a hard time communicating? Think about those relationships as your "mission". Bring Christ in as well. See what happens.

In the Image of God

When I was a child I had curly blond hair, blue eyes, and tan arms and legs. My husband had straight brown hair, a light smattering of freckles, and brown eyes. Our three boys are a mix of both of us, a genetic spreadsheet of our various characteristics, but looking at pictures of me as a young child and at pictures of my daughter you see almost a mirror image. Every family has funny stories about what is passed down along the generations: dimples, near-sightedness, red hair.We also inherit other traits from our families, such as musical ability, a love of reading or a passion for football. As we mature we are constantly being formed and reformed in the image of those who created us, raised us, and loved us.

Today I brought a picture of myself as a child and compared it to one of my children. Our lesson was that we are created not only in the image of our parents, but in the image of God. Being made in God's image has nothing to do with our messy hair or the color of our skin or our ability to sing on key. It is our soul that is created in God's image. And just as I have my grandmother's nose, I hope to have my Lord's heart.

What are you passing along to your children? While you have no control over whether they have your eyes, you can pass along a love of worship, a passion for service, and a heart for prayer.

Back to School

It has been a busy, dusty and chaotic summer around St. Mark's as the construction on our campus took place. My office window provided an unobstructed view of everything from bulldozers to cement mixers as the work crews scrambled to get everything ready for the start of school. On Sundays it has been fun to escort the children going to children's chapel to a spot where they could view the weekly progress and listen to what they noticed had changed from the previous week. And for those of us who work here the construction provided us with a new dress code of closed -shoes and hard hats if we needed to walk through any of the areas where demolition or construction was happening. Thus it seemed only fitting that I brought a hard-hat to the first week of chapel.

Our Bible begins with a construction story, that of God constructing the world. The Master Architect designed light and darkness, land and sea, sun and planets and filled our world with plants and animals of all kinds. And after each stage of the project was completed, God saw that it was good. I brought the hard hat to remind all of us that unlike the rest of creation, we are still under construction. We are created in God's image, but none of us is a completed project. Instead we must participate in our own development, and through prayer and study and action we should try to follow the blueprints that were written for us. Construction can be messy. It can cause headaches. Some mistakes are made, causing delays, and fixing those mistakes may take some time. Luckily God is with us, guiding us through each stage of development, loving us at all times.

Where are you in the construction process? Are you willing to endure some dust and debris in your life? How do we support our children, our families, our friends as their lives are constantly being constructed and reconstructed to be more like God? This week wear your hard hat with pride. God is at work in your life.

Resurection Rolls

Ok- this is not what I put in my box, but this is such a great idea I thought I would pass it along to everyone. If you want to see what was in the box today look at the previous entry, Sleep. But for a cool activity this weekend, try this. Happy Easter! Enjoy!

http://shinefmafternoons.blogspot.com/2010/03/resurrection-rolls-easy-way-to-tell.html

Sleep

I think one of the worst feelings in the world, is when you keep nodding off at a time when you really should be awake. It's embarrassing at the movies, or a concert or lecture. It's dangerous when behind the wheel of a car. One of my most cringe-worthy moments was falling asleep on a date, (think long day and boring episode of Saturday Night Live). I awoke the next morning on my couch to find my date had sweetly put a blanket on me and locked the door on the way out. Needless to say it wasn't a lasting relationship. I can also remember trying desperately to stay awake as a friend and I were driving back, several hours, after going to a concert. Even the cold air rushing in through my open window didn't help keep my eyes open.And what I felt most terrible about as I struggled to keep up the conversation, was that I was letting her down. She was driving, all I had to do was stay awake until we got home sometime the next morning. An easy job at which I was a total failure.

So I have to admit it was with a certain amount of empathy that I brought a warm, soft, snugly blanket in my box today. Empathy for the disciples who were only asked to stay awake and pray with Jesus and yet who, like me, found the spirit willing but the flesh so very weak. Maybe it was the dinner...the bread, the wine, the clean feet, but one by one the disciples drifted off to dreamland, while Jesus struggled with the role he was born to play. It is here, in this moment, that we see how little they understand about the man they follow. Like foolish students, unaware that the final exam is about to take place, they argue over who has the best grades and then fall asleep instead of studying. In Mark 14: 32-42 we are told he wakes them several times, pleading with them to stay awake and pray, yet none of them do.

There are so many things Jesus asks of us that we may struggle to do. Perhaps this Easter, we should make a commitment  to pray, by ourselves, with our children, and as a family. Jesus wants us to share in his journey,  to take up his cross, to join him in prayer. Can we stay awake?

Butterflies

Around my house we love butterflies and have several gardens designed to attract them into our yard. So last year when my mother gave one of us a butterfly pavilion for Christmas we were all excited. It is a large pop-up tent, that hangs in the house where we can watch caterpillars hatch from eggs, eat and grow and form chrysalis and then turn into beautiful butterflies. And this is what I brought in my box today. A home for butterflies, a wonderful sign of life coming out of something that looks like death.

Last week we talked about Mary and Martha and so it was only fitting that this week we share the story of their brother Lazarus. We don't know that much about Lazarus. He is really a bit player in the Gospels, that is until his death. But the story of Lazarus is wonderful and allows us to better understand the man that Jesus is as he travels through his final days on earth. For, it is in the story of Lazarus that see that Jesus, like us, has friends and companions whom he truly loves. Jesus witnesses the grief of the Mary and Martha over the death of their brother and is “greatly disturbed”. (John 11:33) He is again described as being “greatly disturbed” when he came to the tomb. (John 11:38) And it was in this emotional state that he called “Lazarus, come out”! (John 11:43)

When we look at what it means to be human, the ability to emote, to feel, is critical. The sharing of emotions as we laugh together or weep together is what binds us to one another. And so it seems fitting that it is in his final days that Jesus allows his emotions to show. He aches for the loss of his friend and the pain of Mary and Martha. The death of Lazarus allows him to experience the very human pain of loss. And it is seemingly out of this human pain, that he provides one more sign of his divinity by calling Lazarus back to life.

Sometimes we don't want to share our emotions with our children. But allowing them to see us in grief and pain, as well as when happy, shows them both have a place in our lives. And it allows us to remember that our Lord doesn't cause the pain and loss that enters our lives, but grieves with us, and calls us back to life.

Dirty Laundry

In our household we embrace the concept of sharing the wealth, which means since we all get to share in the tasks it takes to keep us from wallowing in stacks of dirty dishes and piles of unwashed laundry. Everyone is responsible for keeping his or her room reasonably neat, and the boys alternate between taking responsibility for being in charge of the trash, the dishes or the laundry. Any of the three can be easier or harder depending on our week (pizza for dinner means less dishes, more trash) and in any given week the boys may do a better or worse job of keeping on top of their tasks. What stays constant is that no matter what job is assigned, each of my three sons firmly believes that he is doing the lion's share of the work, while his brothers are simply taking it easy. It was while listening to a dispute along these lines this morning that I decided to fill my box with dirty laundry.

The children loved it when I began pulling items out of my box today. A smelly soccer jersey. Dirty socks. Flannel pajama bottoms. Each item was met with more laughter. But I really wanted to share that arguments between siblings over who is doing more work have gone on forever. In Luke we read about Mary and Martha, sisters who welcomed Jesus into their home. While Martha was busy with the many tasks one has when entertaining guests, Mary sat at the feet of Jesus to listen. Martha complained that she was left doing all the work, and Jesus gently told her that Mary had chosen the better part.

This story has been interpreted in many ways, and is sometimes used when debating which is better, working  on behalf of Christ, or spending time in study and prayer. What I reminded the children today, is that Christ calls us to both roles. Jesus quite clearly called to minister to our neighbor, and make sure that others have clothes and food. God needs us to wash the dirty laundry. But that can't be all we do. We are also called to take time to listen for the voice of God, to read and study and spend time in prayer allow God to guide us in our ministry to others.

Spring is a busy time. In between signing up for summer camps, and shuttling to soccer, tennis or ballet, are you taking time to pause, to breathe, to pray, to sit at the feet of Jesus and listen?

Living Water

I was a little disappointed that no one guessed what was in my box today. I told everyone that after my family it was one of my very favorite things. There were lots of laughs in the crowd when I pulled out a diet coke. I am not a coffee drinker, and I will admit you can tell how my day is going by the number of diet coke cans in my office, awaiting a trip to the recycling bin. My favorite beach towel is bright red with the slogan "Coke adds life".

To make sure I wasn't setting a bad example for our children, I also brought a green water bottle to chapel. When I am trying not to chug diet cokes I make sure my water bottle is filled with ice, lemon slices and cold water. Given the omnipresence of water bottles, it is probably hard for the children to understand the significance of the story of Jesus meeting the woman at the well.

In Biblical times it was often the job of the young women in the family to fetch water for drinking, cooking, cleaning and watering livestock from the closest well.  This meant that if you were interested in meeting a young woman the well was the place to be. However instead of offering to buy the lady a drink, a pick up line would involve the man asking her to provide water for him or his animals. And so we have a thirsty Jesus, asking the Samaritan women, for a drink of water.

There is so much depth to this story, but what I hoped to get across to the children was the simply idea that while Christ struck up a conversation by asking for water, he is all we need to quench our thirst. There are so many things we seek in this world that leave us still thirsty, wealth, fame, property, power, the perfect pair of heels, but once we ask for him he fills our hearts with love.

Are you thirsty?

Ash Wednesday

Today we had a child-friendly Ash Wednesday service in our pre-primary chapel. In my box I put a palm, and a container of ashes. On Palm Sunday we wave our palms in the air, remembering the crowds who welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem. Those palms are saved, and on Shrove Tuesday at our Pancake Supper we burn them and use the ashes to mark our foreheads on Ash Wednesday.

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, the days we spend in preparation for Easter. The word "Lent" is not from the Bible, but is simply from an Old English word which means "long". The term came into use not because we think the 40 days of Lent are such a long period of time, but because Lent occurs in the spring when the days are getting longer. Jesus came to bring more light into our lives, and during Lent we prepare our hearts for the incredible brightness of Easter morning. Lent lasts for 40 days, a number which appears in many times in the Bible, and is the number of days Jesus prayed and fasted in the wilderness preparing for his public ministry.

There are many ways families can observe Lent together. Here are a few easy ones to get you started.

Prayer
Pray with your children during Lent. Grace at meals is a good place to start. Bedtime also works for many families. Take advantage of other times, such as when you are in the car with your children. Here's a handy way to pray: tell your children about ACTS: adoration, confession, thanksgiving and supplication. Adoration means telling God how much you love Him. Confession involves admitting to God what we have done wrong so that we may be forgiven. Thanksgiving is a time to count all our blessings and thank God for all we have been given. Supplication is where we ask God to help ourselves and others.

Giving
Make a “mite box” with your children. This is an excellent rainy day activity. A mite box, which comes from the Biblical story of the widow’s mite (see Luke 21:1-4) is essentially a sacred piggy bank. All that you need is a discarded milk carton or plastic bottle. Decorate the outside of the bottle or carton with paint or markers. Help your children contribute to the box daily or weekly and then donate the total amount at the end of Lent to a charity of your choice.

You can also turn a regular trip to the grocery store into a spiritual exercise and teaching moment. One item that is always needed by our local food banks is peanut butter. Tell your children that you are buying extra food for those in need. Bring any food donations with you on Sunday or to chapel on Wednesday and have your children place them in the baskets in the back of the church.

Fasting
Both Jesus and his disciples fasted, and it is a spiritual practice that helps us to remember our dependence on God. It also cultivates a spirit of thanksgiving, which is at the core of Christian life. Invite your children to give up one of their favorite foods, or something they really enjoy doing. My older boys are giving up Facebook and texting respectively. My younger son wants to give up chocolate, despite the 15 boxes of Girl Scout cookies that were just delivered. Instead of giving up a particular food item during Lent, adults may want to consider fasting one day a week, perhaps from sunrise to sunset. An alternative to fasting is to do something you might not ordinarily do during Lent, such as attend church every Sunday, or volunteer as a family.

Read Bible Stories with Your Children
Lent is a wonderful time to set aside a moment of each day to read Biblical stories to your children or guide older children in the reading of Scripture. This can be used as part of a daily devotion time and linked to prayer or it can be done separately. There are wonderful Bibles for children and youth, as well as other books and devotion guides available at the St. Mark’s Bookstore.

I closed the service today by telling our children that the cross of ashes on our forehead reminds us and others of the love of Christ in our heart. What will you do this Lent to show Christ that your heart is ready for him?

Barbie

As someone who considers herself a feminist I have a startling confession to make: I like Barbie dolls. As a little girl my best friend, Lee, and I would spend hours a days assembling multiple Barbie houses and cars and offices to make a Barbie neighborhood inhabited my a variety of Barbie and Ken dolls with their ever-changing wardrobes. It became a family affair. My grandfather, instead of making a dollhouse for me, made a fabulous house for Barbie which could be broken down and folded neatly away when not in use. I had a Miss America Barbie for which my uncle made a special four-poster bed (fit for a queen) which he painted gold. My grandmother taught me to sew and some of my first projects were clothes for Barbie. And at my parent's home a huge box with the house, furniture, jacuzzi tub, dolls, clothes and shoes are all still safely tucked away under the bed in my room.

My Barbie-filled past never came up until shortly after the birth of my daughter, when someone dropped off a gift for our newborn, a Barbie dream kitchen. Along with my daughter's blocks and train set we also have multiple Barbie dolls at our home, and a wonderful assortment of clothes, which I brought in my box today. As I shared the blue wedge shoes, the white cropped pants, and the numerous ball gowns in my bag of Barbie clothes, I reminded the children that dressing up Barbie, and managing all her possessions can be fun, but it can also be stressful. Searching for a tiny matching shoe and then getting it on is hard! Luckily, Jesus tells us not to worry about these things. He tells us not to worry about what we will wear, or even about what we will eat or drink, for worrying adds not a single hour to our lives. Instead we should be confident in the fact that God will take care of us. (Matthew 6:25-34)

What are your worries? Are they concerns you would take to God in prayer? I have a good friend who likes to remind me, "Never worry too much about a problem that money can fix", by which she means the real problems are ones we have no control over, the ones that money can't fix.  The next time a worry hits you- ask, is this a Barbie shoe problem? And remember that in all things, Christ is there.

The Good Shepherd

Today was Father's Chapel at St. Mark's. It was wonderful to have so many fathers and special friends join us. The children really love having guests come with them to chapel and we hope you know that you are welcome to worship with us every week. In my box was a well-worn, stuffed lamb. It is very soft, plays music, and was a gift to Sarah Frances that lived in her crib until she outgrew it and now moves from place to place in her room.

The Bible is filled with images of shepherds, mentioning shepherds and/or sheep over 200 times. Abel was a shepherd, David watched his father's sheep, and shepherds were the first to visit Jesus at his birth. Tending sheep was difficult and sometimes dangerous work. The good shepherd often lived with his sheep, leading them to pasture and water, protecting them from wild animals, and guarding them at night whether they were out in the open or in a sheepfold. The good shepherd might even carry weak lambs in his arms. The good shepherd knew each one of his sheep, making sure none were ever lost, and those sheep responded to the sound of his voice.

When we teach our children about Christ, we often break stories and lessons down into their most basic components, to make them easy for them to comprehend. In this case Jesus did the heavy lifting for us. Jesus referred to himself as the good shepherd, one who lays down his life for his sheep, and the story and images of the good shepherd are beautiful ones that even a child can understand. (John 10:11-16) I often tell the children about the good shepherd and the love He has for them. Today I added to this image of the good shepherd that of the good father. The good father loves, and cares and protects his child in the same way the good shepherd does for his sheep. We speak of God the Father, and for our children that image often brings with it all the love and care their own father provides for them. To be a good father is an incredible accomplishment, and we should applaud it more often.

And now, an extra thought that was not given to those in chapel. In the last conversation Jesus had with Peter, he asked him to "Feed my sheep". (John 21:15-17) Whose sheep are you feeding this week?

All you need is Love

Valentine's Day is right around the corner, and I thought instead of talking to the children about the martyred saints of ancient Rome, I would bring one in my box instead. The Valentine I brought in is one I was given by my friend Mary Blake and features one of my favorite characters, Elmo.

Along with this sweet card, I had in my box three of my absolute favorite things. If you want to know the way to my heart it can be found in four little words: Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. I told the children how much I loved them and that it was so exciting to me that I received not one, or two, but three with my Valentine. And then, sadly, I gave each away to someone else.

Every week I remind our children that God fills our hearts with love, but this week I wanted them to understand that real love often involves some sacrifice. In 1 Corinthians 13 we see that love is patient and kind, which is not always easy. Love involves laying down traits that many of us carry, such as envy, pride and anger. God calls us to love even those who are unlovable, those who drive us crazy, those who we don't really even like. Because without love, we are empty.

How are you sharing God's love with others?

Let there be light

I brought two things in my box today, one that makes the other more useful. The guesses included an ambulance and paper, but what I had was a candle and matches. The candle is the kind in a glass jar, it is orange and smells like yummy pumpkin pie. But as much as certain commercials would have us think otherwise, the primary point of a candle is not to smell. It is to provide light.

First I lit the orange candle and we watched it burn for a minute. It wasn't a very big light and I'm sure those in the back found it hard to see. Then I brought out a large candle lighter/snuffer (which the children first thought was a shower head) and lit it, and then used it to spread the light to the torches near the altar. The torches are much bigger than my pumpkin candle. But even they stood out only so much, ... until Ms. Pulignano turned off the lights. And suddenly the candles blazed. Even the small one could be seen by everyone in the room.

The Bible tells us God's first act of creation was to bring light into the world. As caretakers of God's creation we should be protecting that light and helping it grow. Unfortunately, in our busy lives filled with distracting brightness, we don't always take the time to notice or to care for the Godlight that shines in us or in others. We often keep our lights covered instead of passing the fire along to others who may need it. We may even let our lights go out, leaving us vulnerable when darkness comes.

What can you do this week to shine your light into the lives of your family, your friends, your community and your world?

Teamwork

We are a soccer family. My brothers and I played growing up, my husband played and now coaches and all of our boys play, as will our daughter once she's older. I love watching the transition of children playing soccer as they really learn how to play the game. Watching a young children's soccer game is similar to watching a group of border collies compete over who gets to herd a lone sheep. The children tend to clump around the ball, they bump into each other, and sometimes kick it away from their own teammates in their excitement. Typically teams of younger children don't try and keep the children in specific positions, such as goalkeeper, midfielder or wing, and instead focus on foot skills and fun.

With older children, a smart coach will spend time rotating everyone though all the positions on the field. Everyone gets a chance to practice as keeper, everyone gets to play defender, or forward so that everyone has at least the opportunity to try and score a goal. Over time as the players develop, their strengths and talents begin to emerge, and a strong coach is able to identify the best position for each player, based on his or her gifts.

What I reminded the children of, was that every position is important. A team of just goalkeepers wouldn't be able to score, whereas a team where everyone plays forward leaves no one in goal. If midfielders aren't in position the ball can get stuck instead of being passed down the field. God has given each of us a gift, and while some of us may have more than one, no one has them all which is why we are all needed for God' team. Some of us may have a beautiful singing voice, others may be comfortable speaking in public, while another may have the rare talent of being a really good listener. Often our gifts come so naturally to us we may not even consider them a gift. I have always been comfortable teaching, both children and adults, and never realized it might be difficult for others until I tried to recruit Sunday School teachers.

It is our responsibility to listen for the voice of God and discern what gifts we have been given and how we can best put them to use. As our children's "coach" we need to help them discover what they enjoy doing, what they do well, and how they can do both in God's service.

First Aid

We had a wonderful group of visiting parents of children in ELPII today in chapel. I get to see those children on Thursdays when we have ELP chapel, and it was a lot of fun for them to join "the big kids" today. My box was very heavy, as inside I had a large first aid kit. It usually hangs on the wall in the church kitchen, and has everything from antiseptic wipes and band aids to aspirin, antacids, and even lotions for burns, bug bites and poison ivy.

The first disciples chosen by Jesus are the fisherman, Simon Peter, and James and John. And while in the time of Jesus fisherman weren't at the top of the social ladder, there was nothing wrong with associating with them, other then having to deal with the smell of fish. Jesus performs a miracle for them by increasing their catch of fish, and so they left everything to follow him. Soon after this Jesus sees a tax collector named Levi (Matthew). Tax collectors were considered to be sinners. They were shunned by the community. With Matthew, there is no miracle. Jesus sees him, calls for him to follow, and the Bible says Matthew left everything and followed him. And then, because in those days collecting taxes meant having access to money, Matthew a banquet for Jesus in his house. He invited his friends, who, because of his status as outcast, were other tax collectors. And now Jesus was criticized. While is was fine for him to associate with fisherman, it was not okay for him to eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners.

And how does Jesus answer? He reminds his critics that those who are well have no need of a doctor. If there is nothing hurt, the first aid kits sits quietly on the wall. It is not appreciated by those of us who walk in and out of the kitchen, until we have a cut, or a burn, or a bug bite that needs attention. Jesus has come for those who recognize they are in need of healing, and welcome his aid. In the new year, I hope we can all take some time to recognize what in us needs the gentle touch of the Great Physician's hands.

Water

This past Sunday we enjoyed both baptisms and confirmation at St. Mark's as we celebrated the Baptism of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and in my box I brought a long, blue length of fabric. I use this fabric whenever I tell a story to our younger children that involves water, so it has made appearances in the creation story, Noah and his ark, Moses marching to freedom, and of course, the baptism of Jesus.

Water and the image of water has a distinctive hold on many of us. Especially those of us who live in a town where you can't really go anywhere without crossing over water at least once, if not several times. The sound of water soothes us, the power of water awes us, the beauty of water touches our soul. We need water to nourish us and with some work, it makes what was once unclean, clean. The image of a humble, human Jesus, asking the prophet John to baptize him is a favorite of mine. John preached a gospel of repentance and baptism was a way to publicly show an internal, spiritual change. The baptism of Jesus publicly identified him as the Son of God, and linked him with us, the sinners who cross he came to bear.

I reminded the children that after his baptism, as Jesus rises out of the water he heard the words each of us longs to hear, "This is my Son, with whom I am well pleased". The same Holy Spirit that descended to Jesus is there for all of us. We are all beloved children of God. I hope the water that surrounds us can serve as a reminder to repent, to immerse ourselves in God's grace, and to emerge a child with whom the Father can be well pleased.

Gifts

My box today had three of my favorite things in it. Years ago I ran into a store to try and find one or two items on my Christmas shopping list. As I searched for whatever it was among the shelves of knick knacks and useless decorative objects, some movement caught my eye. There, tucked away between vases and picture frames, was a plush bobble-head king holding a gift. A bobble-head king! As I looked on the crowded shelves I saw one, then two more. Someone had thought the perfect gift item that Christmas was a set of three bobble-head kings! They are not small, ranging from 7' to 9' in height, and yet they came with a sticker bottom so you could, I suppose, stick them on the dash of your car. Of course I had to get them.

The three bobble-head kings came home with me. Now, here is where I have a confession to make. I originally bought them as gifts for our three priests. But, as they sat in my room at home, bobbling occasionally for me, I just couldn't part with them. What started out as a gift for others became something I kept for myself.

I love the stories about the three kings, both those from the Bible and the legends that have sprung up around these mysterious figures. What I shared with the children today, is that while the kings brought Jesus precious gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, the most precious gift we can give him is our heart. And, sadly, that gift is one we sometimes hoard for ourselves, instead of sharing freely with Christ. What would our lives look like, if, instead of keeping part of ourselves separate, on a shelf, to be enjoyed by us alone, we gave all of our being freely to the King of Kings?