Do you have people in your life you find it difficult to buy gifts for? My wife recently asked me what I wanted for Christmas. After a few seconds of thought, I told her I didn’t need or want anything…that I was content and happy with what I have. Melinda’s desire was to bless me with something that would mean something to me personally. In the moment I told her I didn’t want or need anything I basically became one of those ‘hard to buy a gift for’ persons!
As the days went by, I thought more about her question and I remembered something I had been given as a gift several years before that continues to bring me great joy to this day. After a surgery, my mind reacted to the anesthesia with great waves of anxiety. In those moments of terror and panic and fear, I would simply ask Melinda to speak truth to me. She would immediately begin going down the list of good things in my life.
“You have 9 amazing children and their spouses that love you.”
“You have many incredible grandchildren that adore you and bring great joy to your life.”
“You have the Lord right hear with you and He loves you with the massive immensity that transcends even the scope of the universe.”
It took only a few minutes of hearing the truth to completely quiet my anxious thoughts and bring me to complete calm and peace. God’s Word is true. Perfect love casts out fear.
When our daughter, Glory, heard that story, she came up with the most simple yet profound and helpful gift I could have ever received. She found a jar and asked her siblings to send her short personal thoughts about me, Bible verses that they thought might be encouraging to me, jokes that would bring a laugh and much-needed joy to my soul, and anything else they thought might bless me.
She put them on small slips of card stock, folded them, and placed them in a jar. Tied around that jar just below the rim and lid was a piece of twine. Attached to that twine was a slip of card stock with the words, “Read one as needed.” In the years since she gave me that jar, I have gone to it in moments of panic or anxiety - especially since being diagnosed with Parkinson’s - and pulled out one or two ‘as needed’ and applied them to my heart and mind…and fear, panic, and anxiety have been put in their proper place - out of my mind - and have been replaced by truth and love.
Here are a few examples of what my children put in that Blessing Jar:
“Dad, you always tell us who we are as Jernigans. I am so proud of the legacy you have built. I am proud of my children being able to go into life knowing the family we come from. I am so proud of you.”
“Remember who you are and Whose you are.”
“Do not rejoice over me, O my enemy. Though I fall I will rise; Though I dwell in darkness, the LORD is a light for me.” Micah 7:8 NASB
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
“When anxiety was great within me, Your consolation brought joy to my soul.” Psalm 94:19
“When I am afraid, I put my trust in You.” Psalm 56:3…You’ve got this, Dad!
“Two men walked in a bar. The third ducked.”
Cashier: “Would you like the milk in a bag?” Dad: “No, just leave it in the carton.”
“Why is there so much pressure to spend Independence Day with other people?”
“I loved it when you would sing us to sleep when we were little. I can’t wait for my kids to enjoy it, too.” the
“We are a rich family because we have you as a Dad. I love you.”
You get the idea. Everyone can give a kind word or a blessing to someone else - whether the person you are blessing realizes they need it or not.
Christmas is coming in two days! What gift can you give to the greatest Gift ever given to this world? Let’s make a quick list of things that we can give Him. We can give Him our intellect - our thought-life. We can give Him our senses for use in His kingdom. We can give Him our body as the dwelling place for His Spirit. We can give Him our emotions. We can give Him our relationships. We can give Him our burdens. We can give Him our time. Let’s do this: let’s go ahead and give Him all that we are! It’s called relationship. Let’s simply walk with Him today…
And he answered, "YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND; AND YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” Luke 10:27 NASB
I will bless the LORD at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
Psalm 34:1 NASB
Merry Christmas!
Dennis & Melinda Jernigan