God loves us so much that He gave us a present. An amazing and perfect present!
How come? What do we need to do to receive this present?
Nothing! It's a free gift: no need for a special occasion (like a birthday or holiday), and it's not a reward, award, or prize (you don't have to earn it, or be the best at something). You don't even have to be lucky! There are no strings attached.
All you have to do is. . . be!
God offers us this gift, freely, and all we have to do is accept it. (You can make the choice to say "thank you!" in return; more about that in a moment.)
God's free gift to us is this:
freedom from fear, from pain, from shame, from sin;
a gift of all goodness, peace, strength, serenity, and love. . . always - eternally! - through God's own Child, Jesus Christ.
And God said, "It is good."
