day 12 - the gift of myrrh

Gold, frankincense, and myrrh...the three gifts of Christmas.

No surprise to find gold as the first gift. A gift that transcends time and culture, it represents the fact that what is needed will be supplied.

Frankincense was also brought. It contains medicinal properties for healing as well as for treating depression. Also, transcending time and culture, it brings hope to the hurting.

But myrrh? Really? An embalming ointment? A gift representing death? I wonder what Jeff and Bridget Powell would think if I brought them a jar of myrrh to the hospital today as they are there celebrating the birth of their baby boy. A polite smile perhaps, with a question mark and maybe a pinch of indignant offense...

We've all heard the sermons and the wonderful discourses explaining how the gift of myrrh was given to represent the death on the cross that was to come for the babe in the manger. All of it true and so beautiful...the beautiful pageantry surrounding the dramatization of the giving of those gifts on screen and in plays always moves me.

But this morning, I'm not watching a movie about the three wise men, nor am I watching a play.

I'm in my prayer chair wearing a cloak of sadness and heaviness.

I'm wrapping the gift of myrrh.

I'm praying for the Melder family, whose mom crossed Jordan yesterday at home while their dad, who is in the hospital, is expected to cross at any time.

I'm wrapping the gift of myrrh.

I'm praying for Mikie Boudreaux.  He's only 30 years old and has already lived a week past what the doctors said he would. His cancer has spread and now obstructs the flow of food. Although weak and emaciated, yesterday was his first time to miss church--he was too weak to come.  If you would like to see him and hear him, here is an telephone conversation he had with Toby Mac just a few days ago.  Mikie is one more awesome individual...



I'm wrapping the gift of myrrh.

I'm praying for Buddy Lucas--Gale's husband--she's my first cousin, and the closest thing to a sister that I have. He's young -- early 60s -- and he just got the news last week that he has a malignant mass in his lung.  The fight has begun.

I'm wrapping the gift of myrrh.

I'm praying for Delisa Cox, my friend. Only 50, she has been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. My heart breaks.

I'm wrapping the gift of myrrh.

I'm praying for Jeff Mallory. Pastor of a church on Maui, he is fighting cancer in the Washington, DC area while his children are here. Only 45 years old...too young to fight such a cruel disease.

I'm wrapping the gift of myrrh.

I'm praying for Steve Willoughby. Valiant missionary, stalwart servant...he said goodby to Barb, his wife, two years ago as cancer took her. Now he fights as brain cancer is taking his vitality, his strength, his life.

I'm wrapping the gift of myrrh.

I'm praying for Robert Trapani, our friend. A wise, gentle soul who fights for his life today.

I'm wrapping the gift of myrrh.

I'm praying for Gary Slaydon. People like Gary are God's gift to churches and pastors.  Only in his 50's, he is fighting hard against his recent diagnosis of multiple myeloma.

I'm wrapping the gift of myrrh.

I'm praying for Mae Tate. Years of sewing up Messiah costumes, head pieces and clothing for Tupelo Children's Mansion. Fighting cancer.

I'm wrapping the gift of myrrh.

I'm praying for Hannah's Nana today. Her body is filled with cancer and the doctors say treatment would be ineffective. She's all that Hannah has left and she is praying for her salvation even more than her healing. Will you join me in helping me pray for Hannah's Nana?

I'm wrapping the gift of myrrh.

I'm praying for Geneva Carmouche. Gracious hostess at the POA, beautiful person inside and out. Early 60s. Way too young to begin a cancer fight.

I'm wrapping the gift of myrrh.

I'm praying for Roxie Ebare. Lifelong member of POA who has been a precious, faithful saint. She's in the cancer fight, also.

The gift of myrrh.

It transcends time and cultures, also. The death it represents comes unwanted into every home, every life, every circle.

But, because of the gift of myrrh, I have hope!

In Jesus' day, myrrh was used as an embalming substance.  It preserves and protects, it keeps and it sustains.  Death cannot destroy us, because we received the gift of myrrh when Christmas came!

When myrrh is burned, it puts forth a sweet savor. It was burned at funerals by those who could afford it because it masks the smell of death. It covered the smell of death with sweetness, with a beautiful fragrance full of love and hope.  Our lives are sweeter because we received the gift of myrrh when Christmas came!

So, I'm wrapping the gift of myrrh for so many today.

And thanking God that He saw beyond where we are into our tomorrow...and provided myrrh for our Christmas gift.