This is my favorite time of the year. The chilly weather (though not so much in NC, it reached 70 degrees at one point today!), the snow, the Christmas decorations, the Christmas tree, the Christmas songs, that magical feeling that always comes around this time of year. But most importantly, this is the time of year when we celebrate the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ! Isn't it easy to get caught up in the craziness that sweeps through during Christmas time? I know that I am absolutely guilty. I found myself today worrying so much about Christmas gifts, about how I really won't be able to afford to buy many. I was worrying about who would be angry with me if I didn't get them a gift, and I was stressing myself out so much over how embarrassed and ashamed I would feel to accept a gift from someone whom I could not return the favor. Don't get me wrong, there is absolutely nothing wrong with giving gifts around the holidays, but what I'm coming to realize is that there is something wrong with being so worried about how many gifts you can afford to buy that you let it steal away your joy that the season can bring in the first place.
I started to wonder how Jesus would be if he was on Earth today. Would he celebrate Christmas the way we do? Would he give gifts, and expect them in return? And then it hit me. Jesus did give a gift.. and it is the most amazing gift that we have or will ever receive. And the kicker? It was freely given.. He expects absolutely nothing in return. He gave His LIFE for mine. He made an exchange. His life, for the lives of every person on Earth. And all we have to do is accept it!! That's it, no strings attached. And what do we do? Well, we spend our Christmas season worrying about the gifts that we are going to give and receive, instead of celebrating the one gift worth celebrating.. the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, for us!
So, I guess what I'm trying to say is.. I'm done worrying about Christmas gifts, and I'm going to start celebrating THE Christmas Gift. Because that isn't the way God wants me to act. There will be a time in the future when I will be able to afford to buy nice gifts for everyone that I want to buy gifts for. But until then, I will do what I can and buy the gifts that I can, and most importantly, not let it steal my joy.
God, thank You for sending us Your Son. Let us all never take it for granted, and let us always remember the best Christmas Gift of all.. a little baby, born to a virgin mother in a dirty stable, who would someday give His life for the lives of all of us. What a beautiful gift.
Isn’t it amazing?
Just to think such royalty
Would come the way He came
In a dusty little town
Born in such humility upon a bed of hay
Certainly He laid His glory down
Who would think this little child
Would be the Promised One?
Would the Messiah really come this way?
And certainly this was no birthplace
For the Son of God
Isn’t it amazing how He came?
I can’t believe that I would be the reason why He came
I can’t believe He left His mighty throne
He became a pauper so that I could be a king
He denied Himself and then He made my heart His home
Isn’t it amazing the way He came?
No crown, no throne no big parade
There were no fanfares played, no jubilant display
Isn’t it amazing how He came?
Dearest Annie,
ReplyDeleteSo good to be hearing from you again!
When we think of Jesus (who is THE GIFT), don't we try to think what we might give as our gift to HIM for all he has given us?
All the days He walked this earth His gift of Himself was for OTHERS. We carry on His Life of Love and giving by also, through Him, giving to others...often in a material way for those who have so much less than we but, more importantly, we give the greatest gift to others in our gift of TIME... time spent in listening, being with and sharing the heart of Jesus with those who are hurting or in need. I hope you will pray with me during this Advent Season to be open to the whispering of the Holy Spirit as to where he wants us to give a gift of listening.
Love, Nana