In the 16th century, French hens were very expensive food items that only the wealthiest homes could afford. Whenever French hens were served at a banquet, then it truly was a feast fit for a king. (Let's hear it for Chik-fil-a!) So in this song, the 3 French hens symbolized the costly gifts brought to the Baby Jesus by the Wise Men: the gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
We all know about gift giving at Christmas.... in fact, most of us are overwhelmed by the enormity of buying or making, wrapping, and delivering gift upon gift. We lose all perspective of the joy of THE Gift in our quest to be gift-givers. Forgive us Lord! Aren't you thankful that He knows our hearts and loves and cherishes us even in our frenzy and frustration as we try to give gifts to everyone we know and love except Him? I somehow think He looks and smiles upon us not with irruption but with delight despite our failings this time of year. He just wishes we could treasure His Gift with the joy and wonder and peace He longs to give us. But our failures do not diminish His love.
For some reason, as I was listening to Christmas carols this morning, the phrase "the wonder of His love" from the wonderful carol, "Joy to the World," really struck me. Wow, do we consider, truly contemplate the wonder of His love? His love, so wide and deep and high. His love that stretched out across the world with nail pierced hands to offer forgiveness and salvation to all who would believe. His love that came one silent night as God wrapped Himself in the flesh of a helpless infant. His love that never quits, never gives up or gives in, never leaves or forsakes, never diminishes, never weakens. His love that lavishes gift after gift after gift upon His children. Think of the gifts He has lovingly bestowed upon you today: the air you could breathe into your lungs, the sun that rose and warmed the earth, the birds that sang you a chorus, the family that surrounds you, the sweet memories of past blessings, the bliss of hot coffee or hot tea on a cool day, the comfort of friends, the laughter shared over something silly, the wagging tail of your dog, the deliciousness of food when you are hungry, the sound of joyous Christmas music, the wonder of Christmas lights that illuminate the darkness, the smell of pine needles.
One of our favorite Christmas books is a children's book by Eugene Peterson called The Christmas Troll. It's about a little boy and girl, named Andrew and Lindsay, who fuss with their parents, because they want to open their presents early. Their father tells them that "gifts are for giving and receiving, not for grabbing and getting. Waiting until morning will be good for you." In their anger, Andrew and Lindsay run away and encounter an ugly, frightening troll. After their initial fear, however, they discover that the troll is actually really sweet--"The troll is ugly--but nice." They laugh and bounce and have a big time with troll, and then it suddenly dawns on Andrew: "...the troll was a gift! Andrew hadn't expected a gift, he hadn't deserved it, yet he'd gotten it all the same--and it felt great!...He wanted to show everybody a gift, a real gift, a gift you can't wrap with paper and ribbons and put under a tree." His father had always told him that "Christmas is our time to remember that God gives gifts. That's what He does, give gifts--gifts everywhere, gifts here, gifts there, gifts from above, gifts from below, gifts seen, gifts unseen, and lots and lots and lots of gifts that don't look like gifts but turn out to be the best gifts of all."
Isn't that truly the essence of Christmas: God the Gift-Giver gives the ultimate Gift in the Lord Jesus? And our response should be overflowing joy and gratitude. We can't out-give Him. We can't pay Him back. We can't earn it or deserve it. We simply must receive it with grateful, obedient hearts. Hearts receptive and open at the continuous gifts of His grace and mercy and abundance.
"Their father told them again that the best gifts weren't the wrapped up ones under the tree and so it's wise to live life expectantly, alert to the surprises of God." O Father, help us to be alert to the joyous surprise gifts of our extravagant Lord! Thank You for Your myriad daily gifts that bless us and bring us such joy. And thank You most of all for the greatest Gift ever given throughout the ages: "For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace." (Is. 9:6)
Wondrous, Counselor, Mighty, Everlasting, Prince, Peace--our Gift, our Emmanuel. Might we never cease to wonder at His love--His extravagant gifts of love and His perfect, ultimate Gift of Love. Like the Wise men with their gifts, let us come and adore Him. To our Gift-Giver and Gift be all the glory.
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