What Can I Give?

“What can I give Him?” For days, these words have been roaming around in my head along with the rest of the line, “give Him my heart.” They were driving me crazy, because I couldn’t remember from where they came, so I had to do some research.

What I found surprised me. These words are in the last stanza of a poem written by Christina Georgina Rossetti, born December 5, 1830. Historians are not sure when Miss Rossetti penned them, but believe it was before 1872.

Her poem, “In the Bleak Midwinter”, was set to music by several composers, the most celebrated being Harold Darke, in 1911. However, I think we are most familiar with Gustav Holst’s 1906 setting. To me it captures the true essence of the poem with its soulful and melancholy tune.

I thought you might remember the small portion I did and may also enjoy reading Miss Rossetti’s poem. Note her great word pictures.

In the bleak mid-winter

Frosty wind made moan,

Earth stood hard as iron,

Water like a stone;

Snow had fallen, snow on snow,

Snow on snow,

In the bleak mid-winter

Long ago.

Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him

Nor earth sustain;

Heaven and earth shall flee away

When He comes to reign:

In the bleak mid-winter

A stable-place sufficed

The Lord God Almighty,

Jesus Christ.

Enough for Him, whom cherubim

Worship night and day,

A breastful of milk,

And a mangerful of hay;

Enough for Him, whom angels

Fall down before,

The ox and ass and camel

Which adore.

Angels and archangels

May have gathered there,

Cherubim and seraphim

Thronged the air -

But only His mother

In her maiden bliss

Worshipped the Beloved

With a kiss.

What can I give Him,

Poor as I am?

If I were a shepherd

I would bring a lamb;

If I were a wise man

I would do my part;

Yet what I can I give Him -

Give my heart.

Some have taken issue with Miss Rossetti’s theology, as not once does Scripture say we are to give our heart to Jesus. However it implies it.

The door, of which Revelation 3:20 speaks, I believe, is the door of our heart. When we open that door and invite Him in, it’s like giving Him our heart. Romans 10:10 explains, “For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

When Jesus enters, He cleans up our messes and shapes us into new creations, giving life to our soul. He is “…the bread of God…who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. Because, “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.”

Titus expounds on this, saying, Jesus is the grace of God. He came to this earth, born of a virgin in a stable, grew in favor with God and men, and then Jesus died on a cross to bring us salvation.

This sacrificial Gift of God warrants an action from us. We must give Him our heart.

Enjoy Susan Boyle's performance.

Have a Blessed Christmas.

I love you all,

Anita