Bless these wise men bearing splendid gifts. May they inspire us to lay our shining best at your feet.

This is one of my favorite prayers from the nativity tradition in our house. I’m especially fond of the magi, who are only mentioned in Matthew’s gospel. I don’t really care if they came to the manger or if they showed up two years later as some scholars suggest. I don’t even mind that the Bible never says there were three of them. Only that they brought three gifts. And, we don’t actually know their names.  Those have been made up for television, movies, and songs. (But they do sound wonderful, don’t they?)

However, those are side issues to me. You can call the wise men Phil, Willie, and Si if you want. The main point is this: A group of dreamers from a distant land followed a star for at least two years in search of a baby king.

Seriously, that makes all my dreams seem so reachable.

Doesn’t it inspire you? Surely, if the God of the Universe could accomplish that, He can show me how to love my husband. Or simplify my life. Or write my next book.

If you are like me, you probably don’t think your gifts are all that shiny in the first place. (Except for our children, of course. They sparkle.) But most of us struggle with even admitting we have a gift to write or sing or paint or rock other people’s babies all day. (That’s a biggie.)

Even so, let’s lay them at His feet. Every gift we’ve been given, whether large or small. Let’s bring them to the manger and put them down beside the gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Then, let’s let Jesus use them any way He wants.