When Prince William wanted to demonstrate just how deep his love for Kate Middleton was, he gave her the most meaningful and precious gift he could ever give.

Burned in the memories of those who lived in the 80’s and 90’s are the heart broken and sad faces of two young princes, William and Harry, whose mother had tragically died in a car accident. Their young lives were shattered and the world mourned with them when Diana’s troubled life came to an abrupt end.

Royalty followers and fans never once questioned Princess Diana’s love for her two boys nor their love for their mother – the star princess.  They were left with beautiful memories of a mother who loved them – even as her glittering world was falling apart.

Pictures, mementos, heirlooms and keepsakes are treasured reminders of the one Prince William loved. William and Harry would have many such treasures of the young mother they loved.  One very special treasure was the sapphire diamond Princess Diana wore on her finger – her unique engagement ring from thirty years earlier.

The unique sapphire ring surrounded by 14 diamonds would not be given away lightly or carelessly nor would it be worn on the finger of someone not loved or valued deeply by William. It would be reserved for the love of his life.  It would be gladly given to the one to whom he wanted to express his deepest love. Kate Middleton accepted that love in November, 2010 as the world clicked their cameras. Prince William said:

Well as you may recognize now, it’s my mother’s engagement ring and it’s very special to me, as Kate is very special to me now as well. It was only right the two were put together,” William said. “It was my way of making sure mother didn’t miss out on today and the excitement and the fact that we’re going to spend the rest of our lives together.” (1)

As heart-warming as the royal love story is, there is an even greater love story to be told. As meaningful as Prince William’s engagement gift was, there is a love gift that outstrips all other statements of love and affection.

The Gift was wrapped in swaddling clothes and snuggled in a manger bed of straw in a farm stable in Bethlehem. The Gift was dressed in street clothes of commoners and walked the dusty roads of earth in pursuit of those to whom He could bring blessings and happiness. The Gift rested His weary head in a boat sailing to other shores to seek and to save the perishing. The Gift sat at a well and blessed a thirsty destitute woman with living water. The Gift left nothing but a trail of blessings behind Him and a bright future ahead of those whose lives He touched.

The Gift was stripped of his clothes and beaten and bruised. Eventually the Gift hung wounded and bleeding upon a cross – rejected and despised by the very ones He loved and came to bless.

The full appreciation of the Gift can only be understood by considering His painful and shameful death of the Cross. When God wanted to express the depth of His love to sinners like me and you, He gave His one and only Son to bear the penalty and to pay for our sins. That death was God’s ultimate statement of love to our prodigal world.

For God so loved the world

That He gave His one and only Son

That whoever believes in Him

Should not perish but have everlasting life.

John 3:16 BIBLE

 Christmas is about the Son of God – the Lord Jesus Christ. He was God’s most special Gift to humanity.

He did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all…”

Romans 8:32 BIBLE (ESV)

Jesus was born to die. That’s the truth of Christmas. That’s the meaning of Easter. He came to be our Saviour. God loved us and that is why God gave Him – the greatest of all gifts!

To us, the greatest demonstration of God’s love for us

has been his sending his only Son into the world to give us life through him.

We see real love, not in that fact that we loved God,

but that he loved us and sent his Son to make personal atonement for our sins.

1John 4:9-10 BIBLE (JBP)

Kate Middleton accepted, as a statement of love, that which was most precious to Prince William – his mother’s beautiful ring. Have you ever accepted the Gift that is most precious to God – His Son Jesus Christ? You will have no part in God’s family or in God’s Heaven until you do.

If you haven’t already, accept God’s Gift of Love today. What a blessed Christmas yours would be this year.

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1.    http://abcnews.go.com/International/prince-william-kate-middleton-engagment/story?id=12158508

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