Unwrap and accept God's greatest gift

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."

- Hebrews 13:8 (NIV)

As a young girl, I waited with anticipation for our family gathering each Christmas Eve. The area beneath our tree overflowed with gifts. I loved all the brightly colored wrappings, but I still couldn't wait to tear through them and see what was in the boxes.

Before I opened my gifts. I carefully read the tags so I would know whom they were from. I opened the package from my aunt and found a container of scented bath powder. I was terribly disappointed. It appeared that for the past few years I had received a container of scented bath powder from her. I wasn't so fond of this gift. Oh, it was OK, but it just wasn't what I was hoping for.

Year after year the predictable gift arrived under the tree.

"I know what that present is," I would say to my sister as I read the tag on the package.

Then I became a teenager. As far back as I could remember, each Christmas the gift of powder arrived. However, one year a change occurred. The gift remained the same, but I was beginning to change.

I was blooming into a young lady and the thought of scented bath powder thrilled me! I enjoyed perfumes, and make-up. What I once thought was an ordinary gift became one of my favorites.

Oftentimes, our relationship with Jesus Christ is the same way. It becomes mediocre because we are focusing on something or someone else. Then we start to search for significance in life. Change begins to occur within our hearts and we realize the greatest gift was within our grasp all along.

This never-changing gift of salvation God offers us in Jesus Christ gives us a blessing of eternal life, healing wisdom, talents, abilities and purpose.

This Christmas, let's not just unwrap our packages. Let's make a change and open our hearts to God's greatest gift - the one that never changes.

• Annettee Budzban is a Christian author, speaker, life coach and nurse. Give a gift of Inspiration. Contact Annettee for information on her new book, "Dream Big!" at Annetteebudzban@aol.com or (847) 543-8413.