A rock.

Yep.  That’s it.  A rock.  A piece of gravel.  But not just any rock.  A hand-painted “paper weight” that my daughter Kagney painted for me!  I remember the day I got this gift!  It was the Friday just before Father’s Day weekend as I picked her up from day care.  She was 2 years old.  As I walked back to get her bag and things, there were about 14 paper plated with hand-decorated rocks on them.  I knew immediately which one was my daughter’s.  It was the one with about a gallon of blue and green paint just poured on top.  It covered the entire paper plate it was resting on.  So much paint, it was soaking though and staining the table.  She finished it off with a healthy dose of glitter.

She was so proud of the gift she had made for me.  First one I had received from her in which she had her own handiwork attached to it.  For the past 12 years, this rock has accompanied me every where I have gone.  It’s been with me through the ups and downs of life.  It’s been on the dash of my car, in the pocket in my jacket, in my back pack.  Everywhere.

I cherish this rock.

This rock is priceless to me.  You can not offer me any amount of money for it.  It’s not for sale.  I will keep it with me every single day of my life.  Although I’ve never used it as a “paper weight” for my desk, I’ve used it for a much bigger purpose.

When I look at this gift my daughter gave me, I see something far more valuable than a rock.  I see a priceless piece of art.  I feel like this should be in the Louvre in Paris!  Right there next to the Mona Lisa!  My daughter put her heart and soul into this.  She had me in mind when she made it.  Each ounce of paint, each speck of glitter, everything was put on it just for me!  I love it!

Here at the holidays, it can be tough.  Life can be tough.  Unfair.  Brutal at times.  You may be dreading Christmas.  You’ve had enough.  Well, here’s the message of this gift… (hang in there)…

This rock also reminds a lot about Christmas.  There are times where we all feel like a dang rock.  A piece of gravel out on the roadside.  Who cares about me?  There’s nothing special about me.  I’m just like all these other boring rocks.  Nobody cares.  But… like the painting and decorating of this rock, someone cared about you so much that through the gift of Christmas, you were made priceless!  Just like this rock I own.  God loves you enough to send that little baby into the manger!  This is the real gift of the season!  Just like I wouldn’t sell my daughter’s rock, God won’t sell out on you either.

You are priceless.  I don’t know if anyone has ever told you that before.  But you are.

Just like my rock.

Merry Christmas