What Makes A Gift So Special?

Maybe I'm being a little picky at this time of the year, but I personally think there is a difference between a "gift" and a "present". A present is something that is often given out of obligation rather than desire. Where a gift has some special attachment or meaning to either the giver or the receiver. It provides a personal connection between the two. So, what is it that makes a gift special? I think there are a few things that will help us to understand. First, if it is beautifully wrapped. You can have some gifts that are sloppily covered in paper and some that are ornately wrapped and the latter will be taken before the former. The outside draws us before we ever know what is on the inside. Secondly, I think a gift is special if it is something that the person really wants or needs. Too many times a present is selected at the last moment out of convenience without much thought to the recipient. But, when the gift is something that the person has been wanting or truly needs, what a difference it makes. The third thing that makes a gift special is if the receiver cannot get the gift for themselves. Maybe because of it cost or its availability, it is out of reach, and then to open the beautiful wrappings and find it there is just amazing. The last thing I want to mention that makes a gift special is if it is there on time. Have you ever been anxiously awaiting Christmas because you had this feeling that what you had asked for you were going to receive, only to find out that it wasn't in stock until next week or it got lost in the mail somewhere? It just seems to take the joy out of it when it finally arrives 2 weeks after Christmas. Well, let's think about this for a moment. The gift that God gave to the world was wrapped beautifully in the form of a little baby there in that manger. It was that which everyone needed and could not get for themselves. The cost was much too high and it was completely unattainable. And, even thought Israel had long awaited it's arrival for hundreds of years, it came right on time. For God so loved the world that He gave the most special gift of Salvation just to you.