Small Gifts and a Little Shepherd Boy

Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washings, each holding twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus told them, ‘Fill the jars with water.’ So they filled them to the brim. // John 2:6-7

The little shepherd boy is one of my favorites to pray with in the Christmas season.

He is a young boy in the Nativity scene, set far back in the crowd. He is small, maybe nine or ten years of age, sporting a worn blue cloak and tousled brown hair. He has no shoes on his feet or anything remarkable in his possession. But in his arms, he carries a lamb, and he looks expectantly to the manger, full of pride at the gift he will soon be sharing with the Christ Child.

In his face, there is no shame in the smallness of his gift. There is no worry over how it will be received or if it will be judged as sufficient. His face says it all: Anticipation. Joy. Love. Trust. Perhaps this little boy knew that the Messiah, the Son of God, would take delight in his gift, no matter how small.

Isn’t that a wonderful place for our hearts to rest, sister?

In today's Gospel from Saint John, we read of another gift that was received and transformed by Our Lord: gallons of humble water became wine—not just any wine, but good wine (see John 2:7-10). Here again, Jesus doesn't scoff at the simplicity of the offering. He graciously receives the gift and transforms it into something that far surpasses what any wedding guest could anticipate.

Sister, if you are entering the New Year with a tug on your heart to give of yourself in a particular way, I encourage you to sit in prayer with those at the Nativity. Ponder the little shepherd boy who gave with equal amounts of generosity and trust. Whether it’s the discernment of a new job or the tentative plans for a new ministry or the pondering of a pregnancy, Our Lord delights in you. He delights in your giving heart (see Psalm 149:4). And He desires to transform the smallest of your gifts into the greatest of fruit.