What can I give Him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart.
This ending to the poem, “In the Bleak Midwinter” by Victorian poet Christina Rosetti (1830–1894), is one of my favorites. Although we don’t know the exact timing of Jesus’ birth and have reason to believe it was in the spring rather than “bleak midwinter,” the poet’s humble realization that the best she can offer Jesus is her heart rings with resounding—and challenging—truth.
What does Jesus most want from us? Our hearts! If we adopt the Beatitude humility of the “poor in spirit” (Matthew 5:3), we will acknowledge our dependence on God for everything and offer him our hearts as our best gift. Much like the little drummer boy, our lives will then “play our best” for him.
We pray you all have a blessed Christmas season, one that’s rich with the realization of God’s abundant love and blessings in your lives.
Image credit: Alessia GIULIANI/CPP/CIRIC