The Tenth Day Of Christmas

Before you take another step there’s something you should know
About the years ahead and how they’ll be
You’ll be living in a world where roses hardly ever grow
Cause all I have to offer you is me
There’ll be no mansion waiting on the hill with crystal chandeliers
Then there’ll be no fancy clothes for you to wear
Everything I have is standing here in front of you to see
All I have to offer you is me

Sweetheart I’ll give you all my love in every way I can
But make sure that’s what you want while you’re still free
The only gold I have for you is in this wedding band
Cause all I have to offer you is me
There’ll be no mansion waiting on the hill with crystal chandeliers
Then there’ll be no fancy clothes for you to wear
Everything I have is standing here in front of you to see
All I have to offer you is me

All I have to offer You is me . . . .

Those words have been running through my mind for several weeks. At the oddest moments they will appear out of nowhere, seemingly unrelated to what is going on at that moment. But there they are – All I have to offer You is me.

I capitalize the Y in you because while the words are the title of a popular country song that is not what brings them to mind. I’m not thinking of a romance but of a commitment. A commitment to God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. During Advent and Christmas these words come reminding me – nothing in my hand I bring – simply to the cross I cling.

Lord, all that I have is me – my self – and nothing else.

But that is what I give to You.

All of me.

Use me as You choose, whenever You choose, however You choose.

I am Yours.

O Lord, open Thou my lips; and my tongue shall shew forth Thy praise. For Thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: Thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise. Psalm 51:15-17

Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth the hearts. To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. Proverbs 21:2-3

For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. Hosea 6:6

But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Matthew 9:12-13

And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. And the scribe said unto him, Well Master, thou has said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. Mark 12:29-33

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service: And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:1-2