Some years ago, a group of church members became concerned that Kathy and I needed a second car. They pooled some money, found a car they felt would meet our needs and proudly presented us with a bright orange, mid-'70s vintage AMC Matador. These were among the heaviest and longest cars ever produced in America. It was a whale of a gift, and not easy to receive.

I made a significant mistake in trying to give it back to the dealer, and when that did not work, it took us a few weeks to get up the nerve to drive it. But once we got used to it, it turned out to be quite a blessing in our lives. Soon, everyone in the community knew us, and our members could see us coming from afar. The car ran for many years, remarkably problem-free, and both our boys learned to drive on it. One side benefit was that they never asked to drive to high school! Over the years, I developed a fondness for the whale, and began to refer to it as a "classic." Finally, our mechanic informed us he could no longer continue searching for parts in junkyards, and it was retired.

In the midst of our Christmas celebrations, where so much of what we do is to find just the right tree or decorations and select the perfect gift for each family member, it is good to be reminded that the gift of Emmanuel, "God With Us," was not at first easy to receive. When Joseph learned of this gift, he graciously tried to "give it back" by deciding to quietly divorce Mary. Mary was "greatly troubled" at the angel's greeting, and after learning of the gift, could only respond, "How will this be?"

Our popular culture also struggles with the gift of God and tries in many ways to celebrate a holiday without naming the gift: Jesus. This reluctance is also found in Christians. There is something in the celebration of Christmas that requires a preparation of the heart. The gift of God is too big to comprehend, too mysterious to explain, too unsettling to easily receive. The Savior is the Lord; the grace of God humbles us; and the call of God-in-Christ requires our obedience. The great gift of God must be received by faith. There is a preparation of the heart that brings us to faith in receiving, and enables us to share the good news!