The present

Two presents are set before you, one pristine wrapping of gold textured paper with a shinny red bow and the other, the same size but a hurried wrapping with ripped comics and no bow.  Which do you choose?  The silent rationalization of which present to choose complete with Monty Hall’s voice echoing with your brain about making a deal.  After much debate, you choose the prettier of the two presents.  Once unwrapped you discover it is wad of cash so you feel as though you have chosen well as you take the money and make a name for yourself; climbing the social ladder.  Years pass and you grow tired, worn down from the constant fight to be number one, to attend all high society functions and rake in green after green.  You become sluggish over the years, moving slower, thinking erratically, tainted by the greed, the power, the social status; you have become someone you no longer recognize.  A stranger stares back at you in the mirror, it is then you stop to think, ‘How did this come to be?  When did this all begin?’  No time for contemplations, as the phone rings and the whole world crumbles if you don’t take the call.  Fires out, back to a moment...the gifts, the cash, the beginning.  Frantically, you run to the closet, rummaging through the boxes, you find that second present, it looks the same as it did 20 years ago...ripped comics, visible tape and wrinkled folds.  Curious, you tear the package open only to reveal a cross on a chain and a letter.  With cross in hand, you open the letter:

‘This letter will be the most important letter you will every read, so read it often and keep it close.  The secret to life, many have pondered, many have gone insane seeking its answer; yet the answer lies within the depths of your heart...God.  God is your best friend, your parent, your confidant, your breath; He knows you better than you know yourself, He cares for you deeper than you care for yourself, He understands your struggles and vows to never leave your side.  His unconditional love will fill you with hope and create a world of joy wrapped in peace.  You need only trust in Him, trust in His words, accept His love.  Faith is His gift to you, you need only listen and follow, follow the example as set by Christ, His selfless love, His unending kindness, His attention to the Commandments.  Live your life as one who treats others as they wish to be treated, with respect, dignity and generosity.  Remember those who have nothing, give to them your time, your ear, your heart, your hand; show them they matter, give them purpose by giving the, love.  Love be your breath, your actions, your thoughts and love will be your life.  Keep close up your Father in heaven, speak daily, make time to listen, make time to understand.  Time is made for that which is important, your Father is most important; He will be your rock through the rough times, He will be your soundboard through the questionable moments, He will be your hope when all is lost, He will be your strength when you find yourself tired and weak.  From this moment on your are charged with living, living with the Father a life of faith filled with joy, filled with love.  This cross is a gentle reminder of this moment so that when you look into a mirror, you will never see a stranger stare back at you.  You are defined by your faith, defined in the eyes of the Father as love.  Be love.  Many more gifts will follow, choose wisely, the world is not always as it seems but the Father is the reality of truth, the reality of life, itself.  With every gift you later unwrap, go back to this moment, remember the secret of life; God.  Every decision from here on must include God, must include faith for these center the human consciousness keeping temptations and frustrations at bay.  Remember, you are God’s love, live as such.’

The letter was not signed.  

Now imagine life had this been the present opened first, how much different would life be, less wants and more needs, less wow and more now.  But look not back with regret look now to a future abundant with love.  It is never too late to begin a relationship with the Father, the secret of life is out, live it.  Live life walking hand in hand with the Father. 

Two presents are set before you, which do you choose?