gifts given, gifts received

Renée Antrosio – January 6, 2026 5 Comments

What brought you joy this holiday season? The look on a loved-one’s face when they opened a gift you had thoughtfully prepared? A surprising present from a friend? Or perhaps there was disappointment- not being seen or given what we had hoped. The gifts of the magi, the accounting of last year’s giving, the contemplation of the possibilities of the coming year- what are our gifts, given and received? 

When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. Matthew 2:10 NRSVUE

Epiphany is a good time to pause, considering our journey to this place and what we have to offer. For whom are we searching? What do we bring with us? What needs to be laid down, presented before the future king? Each of us is invited on a journey, to follow the star that brings us closer to Jesus. Each of us has gifts that we could bring. 

Inside everyone
is a great shout of joy
waiting to be born. 
(David Whyte, The Winter of Listening)

I continue to be surprised by how often joy is noted in the Bible. We are invited to experience joy- of pausing on the journey, of arrival and departure, of presence, of awe, of giving and receiving. Do we not feel that joy? Is it still waiting to be born in us? Are we a people of joy; in the midst of calamity and oppression, do we recognize God at work, that we have been invited into God’s story of the salvation of humanity? Perhaps we can accept the invitation to practice a posture of praise, like Steve Logsdon reflected, as an avenue to joy. 

They entered the house and saw the child with Mary his mother. Falling to their knees, they honored him. Then they opened their treasure chests and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Matthew 2:11 CEB

As I begin this new year, I feel prompted to open and consider what is in my treasure chest. What gifts do I have- do you have- within? What do we have to offer at this moment in our lives, at this point on our journey? And am I willing to lay those gifts at his feet, trusting that Jesus will use them better than I ever could? That we too can contribute to the kingdom, and that it is an honor to do so. 

Sometimes we might feel that our chests are empty of treasure, that we have no gifts left to bring. Maybe we don’t seem to have precious stones to offer, just some random rocks. I am reminded that even at these times, we can assemble whatever bits are at hand and offer them to Jesus. 

And here by the water
I’ll build an altar to praise You
Out of the stones that I’ve found here
I’ll set them down here
Rough as they are
Knowing You can make them holy….
(Here by the Water, Jim Croegaert)

Each of us has journeyed to this place, through hardships and adventures, and has come bearing gifts. May we pause and experience the joy of this arrival. May we see God’s presence in the unlikeliest of places. May we kneel in honor and in awe. May we present ourselves and our gifts, knowing that God can make them holy. —Renee