It's a wrap

It was a whirlwind week I had been anticipating for months. Starting in New Jersey and passing through Delaware, my week-long journey would ultimately carry me all the way to the West Coast for time in California. Though the destinations were different, they all shared one beautiful purpose: the opportunity to teach and share God’s Word through studies in the book of Ruth and the book of Acts. For me, it was a dream come true, and I felt ready for every moment of what God had prepared ahead.

It was early in the morning, the sun just beginning to rise, when I picked up my small bag and the thank-you gift I planned to give my friend and host, who was already in the kitchen. As I closed my suitcase to head back to the airport, a wave of deep gratitude washed over me.

Have you ever heard the phrase “It’s a wrap”? It means “we’re done here” or “everything is finished.” It’s the idea of tying everything together with a neat bow—a clean, positive, satisfying end. That’s exactly how the week had felt to me.

I walked toward the stairs, hands full, talking as I made my way down. I looked up to say good morning and noticed the to-go coffee cup waiting for me on the table. But as I stepped off what I thought was the final step, I learned—very suddenly—that I was wrong. There was one more step I hadn’t seen. With that single missed step, everything changed.

One missed step.

Five broken bones.

A torn ligament.

And a shift in my life I never saw coming.

This was not the way I expected such an amazing week to wrap up.

As I’ve reflected on this unexpected journey, especially during this season, my experience has reshaped how I approach Christmas. The usual hustle and bustle has quieted for me, and with more time on my hands, I found myself learning a new way to wrap gifts—more intentional, slower, less hurried than ever before. Instead of rushing just to get things under the tree, I’ve been wrapping with purpose. And in doing so, I learned a few things about my own wrap this year:

W — Watch Your Step

Everyone in the Christmas story experienced a shift in their journey.

Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem.

The shepherds left their fields.

The wise men followed the star and eventually came to Bethlehem as well.

What did they all have in common?

Not one of them took a single step without trusting that God was leading them—even when they didn’t know what awaited them. There were no missed steps in God’s plan.

R — Release What’s in Your Hands

Mary and Joseph depended on God for everything: a place to stay, swaddling cloths, and provision for their new life.

The shepherds left behind their sheep.

The wise men carried only what was meant to be a gift for the newborn King.

Nothing weighed them down or distracted them from following where God was calling.

A — Always Walk in the Light

A star.

An angelic announcement.

Heaven’s glory breaking into darkness.

Every traveler to Bethlehem was guided by light—a light that brought clarity, revealed truth, and made the next steps visible. And at the center of it all was Jesus, the Light of the World, born to lead us still.

P — Pause and Reflect

As your shopping wraps up and the season begins to slow, how will you find yourself when you finally sit by the tree, reflecting on the birth of our Savior? What steps is He inviting you to take? What might He be asking you to release? What light is He shining on the path ahead? These thoughts will lead you to a place where you joyfully and gratefully look back and say, “It’s a wrap”.