“…They went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.” -Matthew 2:9-11
If you were to say the phrase “the gift of the Magi”, some might think you are referring to the classical gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh that the three wise men laid at the feet of the sleeping child Jesus over 200 years ago. Others might think you are referring to the O. Henry short story “The Gift of the Magi” where a young couple, motivated by selfless love for each other, sell their most precious objects to buy Christmas gifts for one another.
But as we approach the Epiphany, when we celebrate and remember the wisdom of the Magi kneeling before the Lord, we can learn from the real gift of the Magi.
Their real gift was the example of humility and love before a child. Their real gift was how they taught humanity for the rest of time to honor, protect, and rejoice in children.
Our modern culture is one that throws away whatever is not useful — from objects to people. If a thing has no apparent worth, it is promptly thrown away. Children and the elderly are most often the targets of this throw-away culture. They are too needy and simply “get in the way.” They “destroy” the desired way of living one’s life.
But the Magi offer us a powerful counter-example, a hope for a different kind of society. One in which “usefulness” is never applied to a person and all life is recognized and, instead, is honored.
Options United follows in the footsteps of the Magi. In humility we bow before children and their mothers in service and in love, honoring lives, no matter how small. Please consider also following in the footsteps of the Magi by supporting our life saving mission today.