We Three Kings of Orient Are....

Matthew 2:1-2
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem ² and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.

I have been thinking about the 3 kings a lot this year. This isn't an area I have really thought about in past Christmases. Oh yeah, I would sing the song "We Three Kings" and loved listening to the bass voices showcase their talents. 
One year as a Sunday School teacher my class chose as their pageant skit -Myrtle, Frank and a Few Wise Guys. 
(Here is a link to it if you want to have a laugh: 
http://www.dramatix.org.nz/archive/Christmas/myrtle_frank_and_wise_guys.html) 
There is also the joke about 3 wise women:

But if you really read the text I think there is a lot to glean here. The skit ends with the idea that Jesus is for all. I think Matthew 2:1-12 reflects that as well. Here is King Herod with the knowledge of the prophecy, all the chief priests and teachers of the law and they all missed the star. On the other hand you have 3 men from a far off land who knew the significance and traveled far just to spend a little time with the true King. 
My thinking started this Christmas with the idea of gifts. So many people get wrapped up (pun intended) in finding and buying the perfect gift or buying lots of gifts. What do people want vs what do people need. I am just as guilty of this. I love to give gifts. Why do we give gifts? I know some people think about Jesus being the greatest gift and He is, but what about the gifts the Wise Men or Magi brought and the meaning behind them? 

• Gold (fit for a king) 
• Frankincense (used to worship at a temple)
• Myrrh (used for embalming, as well as a salve for irritations such as diaper rash)

I think people could look at these gifts in many different ways. Each gift represents a different, but important area of life. 
These gifts were also not given the day of Jesus birth, but after the Magi found him after a time of travel. 
I received an e-mail from my Pastor as part of her prep for this Sunday and she had a line in the e-mail about where the focus was. The Magi it seems were focused on the right things and Herod was focused on the wrong things.
Not sure I have a great way to tie all this together, but wanted to share what I was thinking. I do know I want to change how we do presents in my immediate family next Christmas so we focus on the right things.