Perfectly Wrapped

"...shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes..."  Luke 2:12

"...wrapped together in a place..." John 20:7

I cautiously wrapped and wrapped yet again. First in plain white news-print-type paper as to keep any ink from transferring onto delicate, beloved objects. Then, I followed up with a second wrapping with layers and layers of plain ole newspaper until I felt assured that the contents within would be safe while enduring a treacherously, dangerous journey made possible by very rough-around-the-edges type of guys volunteering to transport items from one house to another. 

You see, I'm quite a sentimental person, which means I'll hang on to items which remind me of a cherished memory or someone close to my heart. You might look at it and see nothing; yet, to me, it is a reminder of something I never want to forget. "It's all about perspective," I'd tell you. So,  I can say without reservation that there's nothing more disheartening than unpacking a box of "special-ness" only to find there are things that didn't survive the move. You're left with nothing but broken pieces of what had been. On the contrary, what a pleasure it is when you unwind all the packing paper to find that little treasure still in tact. Oh, yeah!!!

When Jesus came to earth as a baby, He was wrapped in swaddling clothes. When He was taken off the cross, He was wrapped carefully in burial clothes. One occasion, joyous - one, grievous...yet in both instances, there was a careful wrapping process. 

You might feel you haven't been wrapped very well because life has left you with brokenness. However, often times, brokenness is caused by our own nonchalant, inconsistent  behavior and actions. Jesus never falters in His method of wrapping us up. He is perfect and has a five-star moving record. There's nothing we'll ever go through which will catch Him off-guard because we are His precious treasures. Regardless of where we're at in life, whether in a joyous or grievous position, God will wrap us just perfectly in each situation if we'll let Him have control.

My friend, even when we find ourselves broken, God can intervene. Need final proof? Consider this. Following His grievous death, when He arose from the dead, Jesus paused long enough to fold his burial clothing before leaving the tomb. That's a pretty remarkable thing, don't you think? How many of us unwrap our treasures and then fold the wrapping paper up? (I'm laughing at that one!) We usually wad and crumble the wrapping up, then throw it away immediately. 

We are His treasures...He cares for us immensely. We are perfectly wrapped within His arms - every time. Rest in knowing that today!