Christmas Gifts

Luke 2:11 – For today in the city of David there has been born for you a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. (NASB)

1 Thessalonians 5:18 – Thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live. (MSG)

I remember Christmas past very well. A few days before Christmas, we would decorate a real live Christmas tree that was about five or six feet tall. My brother was very particular about how the tinsel hung. We younger ones had to do it to suit him. One Christmas Eve, my dad put on my red parka with a pointy hood over his head. He went outside with it on and pretended to be Santa Claus, saying, "Ho! Ho! Ho!" and "Merry Christmas!" How it delighted us! Christmas morning there were many gifts under the tree. We would have turkey dinner and mincemeat tarts and homemade chocolates and candies.

There was one Christmas that I remember so well. Times were tough and there wasn't much money to be had. We had a teeny little Christmas tree that sat on the washstand. In the morning, there were very few gifts. My treasured gift that year was a tin lunch kit — a black one with a lid that flipped open and a place for a thermos to fit in the lid. I wasn't disappointed, though. I was tickled with my lunch box. It was new and shiny!

I have thought about that Christmas often over the years. I'm sure my parents felt badly that they couldn't buy us many gifts that year. They gave all they possibly could. We had a happy time — a time filled with love and laughter. We were thankful that we had a warm house and that we had each other, and that was really all that mattered.

I wonder how thankful we are nowadays. We all have so much — so many clothes, so many cars, so many toys. Yet often we want more. We aren't satisfied with what we have. God gives and gives and gives. He gave us His only Son. He has given us health and family and jobs and homes. The list can go on and on. What have we done with it? Have we thanked Him for it?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help us to remember all that You have done for us. You give us the very breath that we breathe. You have given us everything. At this Christmas season, help us to focus on what is important — and that is You. You came to earth for us. Thank You. Amen.