Wonderful Christmas Gift Story

Tim Challies shared a wonderful story on his blog about his son wanting a Playmobil castle for Christmas. This is not just a sappy story from the Hallmark Channel or ABC Family, it is a true story of a father and son and an expensive gift. It will warm your heart on an earthly level, and on an eternal level, leave you with a deeper love for the gift of salvation. I would encourage you to read the whole story on his site, but here is the wonderful conclusion (Spoiler AHEAD! Go to Challies.com right now if you don’t want the ending given away!):

My son’s motives were pure, I’m sure. He felt some measure of guilt in receiving a gift he felt we could not afford. And so he tried to repay me, but in a way that was inadequate, impossible and in denial of the very fact that what I gave him was intended to be a gift. I expected no repayment and took my joy in my son’s delight. His delight was my reward. And there is the lesson for me. God wants me to receive mercy and grace as a gift. Even my best efforts at repaying Him merit me nothing. What God desires is that I receive His gift as a gift and that I return to Him all the praise and the glory through enjoying what He has so graciously given me. He delights in my delight.