Unwrapping Grace by Carroll Makemson

But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.

Ephesians 4:7

For over fifty years, the magnifying glass lay in the drawer of my father’s World War II Army surplus desk. As a child, I admired its sleek black handle, its rich-looking hardware, and its perfectly round and convex lens. Once the magnifying glass became mine, I often pulled it out of my desk drawer for closer study. The smoothly worn black handle had become exposed walnut by then, the hardware showed a small crack, and the lens bore a few chips. Still, the awe of its magnifying power in the hands of my father lived on in my memory.

My father used it regularly for many reasons: to help read maps or untangle gold chain necklaces; to exult the beauty of locust shells, insect wings, and fish scales for grandchildren; to heal fingers and toes by removing splinters and thorns; to evoke happy memories when examining old pictures.

A past holiday season, I decided that the old magnifying glass should wear a Christmas bow and sit on my desk, instead of being tucked in a drawer. Since then, it has served for me a subtle reminder of the power of Jesus’ mother’s voice in Luke 1 when she sang, “My soul magnifies the Lord.”

Just as my father’s old magnifying glass has gone on enriching lives, let us do the same by magnifying our Lord’s love—HIS GRACE—in our lives and in the lives of others.

God of all Christmas people, help us to be intentional as we strive to magnify your presence throughout the coming year. Amen.

CARROLL MAKEMSON