To many people these gifts come in the form of an object, toy or money. There are greater gifts by far that surpass anything we can buy for our children. One of those truly great gifts is natural gladness of heart. A person once noted that gladness of heart is to the soul what healthy is to the body and what sanity is to the mind. It is the test of normalcy. Gladness of heart cannot be purchased, but it can be passed on by example and by teaching correct values.

Paul noted that Jesus had filled the hearts of the believers with food and gladness (Acts 14:17). Gladness is born by learning to be content with the life we have while we are also striving to improve ourselves and preparing for eternal life. It was one of the greatest gifts God gave to Christ that Jesus passes on to us. Paul wrote that God anointed Jesus with the oil of gladness (Hebrews 1:9). May that oil flow over you in great abundance and be seen to all in that which you do (Isaiah 61:1-3).