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My youngest granddaughter tore into the colorful paper and ripped it to shreds to see what was inside.

This four-year-old was expecting the special doll she had requested. It almost broke my heart to watch her eyes narrow and her shoulders slump in disappointment when she saw the clothes inside the box. She didn’t say a word, but she didn’t have to. Her countenance and body language said it all. She simply looked around the room at each face, then dropped her little head to hide the tears.

Before her emotions escalated out of control, I placed another box in her hand. She raised her head and gazed at me expectantly, her hope restored. This time she slowly pulled the paper away as if afraid to be let down again. When her eyes rested on the doll she had specifically asked for, she jumped up, danced around, and squealed in delight.

Watching her reaction on this particular Christmas day made me wonder how many times God has given me a gift and watched as my countenance fell because of my disappointment. Maybe the gift wasn’t spcifically what I had asked for or wanted. Did I break His heart with my reaction?

What I’ve learned over a lifetime of serving God is that He always knows what’s best for us and exactly what we need. The good news is He also promises to give us the desires of our heart when we delight in Him. But sometimes we must wait. He is the giver of all good gifts, and His gifts are always delivered right on time—His time. And they are most definitely worth waiting for.

During this Christmas season, step away from the busyness of the holiday, and spend some time with Jesus—the greatest gift of all time. Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4 NIV).

(Photo courtesy of Free Digital Photos.)

(For more devotions, visit Christian Devotions.)