Christmas was and still is a very important and fun time for our family. A
time of love, of gathering, of giving, and the joy of it. My Grandparents, in
particular my Grandmother loved Christmas time, and seeing the kids enjoy it.
Being a teacher, she knew most of the kids and their families in the small town
in Pennsylvania she lived in, and knew who had and who hadn’t for gifts. What
we didn’t know until after she died, was quietly and anonymously she had been
Santa to many kids in the neighborhood for years, providing money for their
parents to enjoy both buying gifts for their kids, and then seeing the joy of
them opening them. My father took it over for awhile, but being some distance
away, it was discontinued. But the tradition that she had started, has been
carried on by him, and now my mother since his death. For they made sure we had
money for Christmas gifts over the years, in times when we had plenty, and times
of barely getting by, we had money for Christmas, not for paying bills, but for
paying cash for Christmas gifts, for our family, to see the joy of our kids
opening gifts. They had remembered how they had made it through the tough times
with Grandma’s help, and carried it on to their kids. And we do today, as we
honor their legacy, trying to provide for others at Christmas time, so that they
can have toys under the tree, and have something to wake up to on Christmas
morning. We may struggle the other days of the year, but Christmas is and
always has been singled out as a day of giving in our family. A day when the
presence of presents under a tree reminds us of how much joy is found in giving,
and because of a tradition, we have are still a part of it.
Over the years we have been able to give to friends, and others
anonymously, but get to see the joy or hear how surprised they were by the
gifts. If only they knew how blessed we were in giving, and when we do hear,
leave them with an encouragement to do it for others. We love to receive, but
nothing beats the joy of someone you love opening a gift and being surprised and
blessed. For 62 years of my life it has always been that way, a special gift
from God, and although to some it may seem we’re spoiled, we are very
appreciative, for we know the sacrifices that have been made so we can have.
And without fail, we spend all the money on gifts for others, not on bills, or
on needs, but gifts, because we have been shown the joy of giving, and selfishly
sometimes want to enjoy that joy seeing others get.
But as special as Christmas and Christmas time is, we have to live the rest
of the year, and have learned to give then too. A gift for your birthday is
expected, but a special just thinking of you gift is more special. While some
concentrate on the price, or set an amount, we find the thoughtfulness far
outweighs any price paid, for in setting a price, we see it as “that’s all I
have to spend?” And when we legislate giving, it isn’t giving any more, and the
joy is robbed of both getting and giving. Sometimes it’s the for only a few
dollars more I could have or the what if I don’t spend the total amount, will
they feel cheated? It is when the elements of giving become more important than
the giving itself, when the gift is the prize and not the joy of giving, we miss
out. If you are a giver, you know what I mean, if not, you don’t know what you
are missing.
My prayer is I want all the blessings from God I can get. Not selfishly,
but God loves to give, to bless his children. And when the blessings flow, we
return love more to him, not as in it being bought, but we get to snuggle up to
him and he gets to see our joy. Years ago when out of work, and being led to go
into ministry, I sat on my porch, I missed work, I liked working, had a good
work ethic, and needed the money. So I asked God what do I do, and he reminded
me of how he took care of me, and not to ask or beg. His words still echo, “if
you ask for it, it is not a gift, and I like to give good gifts.” Make that
great gifts. Gifts from the heart, many times without price, for the real value
is found in the love giving them.
Today we are faced with Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and daily sales until
Christmas, and then after. But we forget about Jesus, the ultimate gift that
God gave us. We forget if we could ever imagine the cost, and how much love it
took for Jesus to die for us. We get involved in trees, shopping, lights, and
the things of Christmas, but forget that Christmas means the day of Christ, the
day of his birth. And that when we are saved, we celebrate Christmas every
day. When faced with nothing but ourselves to give, that is the example of the
ultimate gift that God shared with us, the gift of Jesus. A gift that keeps on
giving, and he encourages us to give ourselves to him. The creator does not
need his creations returned to him, but he wants us made in his image to give to
others. Long after the holiday season is over, and the bills arrive, and life
again sets in, the gift of Jesus Christ is still giving, and we can too. Give
of yourself, love when all else fails. When the poor man asked for healing,
Peter told him “silver and gold have I not, but in the name of Jesus Christ rise
up and walk!” And he did, the joy of giving and getting, through Jesus. We all
want something for Christmas, but few want the someone of Christmas. Today God
is willing to give, will you add to his joy by coming to him? The angels of God
rejoice when one is saved, they in no way can compare with the joy God has when
we turn to him, and see Jesus as our savior. Wise men still seek him....and he
still seeks you.
Maybe Pete Maravich, Pistol Pete said it best. A Hall of Fame basketball
player, one who had it all but felt empty without Christ, but when he knew Jesus
personally, it all changed. He said “money will buy a fine dog, but only love
will make it wag its tail.” The joy of giving, expressed in man’s best friend.
Share some of that love today, in life the tail wags the dog too often, in Jesus
we get to wag the tail. It takes love, and what better gift to give this
Christmas than the gift of love. Share it today, start a tradition, see lives
changed, including yours. For God so loved the world, he gave his only
son....found via gifts under our tree again this year, the joy of giving, from a
loving God. May the joys of your Christmas include Jesus again this year, for
it is in giving that we truly receive. The presence of presents under the tree,
may we find your dog’s tail wagging when opened. And why he wags his when he
sees you.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com