Have you caught the “Christmas Spirit” yet?
You know, that wonderful joy and excitement of giving that comes along with the tradition of sharing gifts with family and loved ones.
Do you feel nostalgic when you see all the gifts piled under the tree, or when you hear “The Night before Christmas” being read? Do you turn up the Christmas music a little bit louder and cozy up with a Hallmark movie just to be festive?
That’s all a part of the joy and wonder of the Holiday season. I can honestly say that my memories of Christmas are wonderful. Even when it was not the “picture perfect” Christmas, it was still a happy time in my life.
As times have changed, it seems as if the “Spirit of Christmas” has evolved into a more commercialized event and less of an act of love and joy.
Case in point: Each year my mother would buy me gifts like new make-up, socks, my favorite shampoo, or some pajamas. My stocking would be stuffed with lotion, chapstick, my favorite candy, chocolates, and maybe some nail polish. A lot of those things were items that most people would not view as gifts, but as something that you would get on a regular basis.
No one wraps up soap and a loofa sponge for a gift, right? Oh yes, they do! Especially if you are my Momma!
Now let me tell you why. My Momma understands what it means to love others 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
Those everyday essentials that were tucked under the tree with ribbons and bows weren’t meant to just show her love for me that day, but each day that I used them. She conveyed that love isn’t found in the expensiveness of the gift, but in the fact that she really knew what we as her children liked and what we needed.
It wasn’t just a gift, it was personal. That type of “Christmas Spirit” is what made those wonderful memories of Christmas for me.
But now let me tell you what drives me even further to make sure that as the years go by, my children, grandchildren, family, and friends, all experience Christmas from me with the same “spirit.”
Jesus. That’s right, Jesus. It is not just a cliché saying that, “Jesus is the reason for the season.”
It is the truth. You see, God knows us. Each one of us. He knows our wants, our desires, and more importantly, our needs. It is God who supplies those needs, not just at Christmas, but every day.
He is a Father who knows his children completely. And as such He knew that there was one gift that each of us needed. His son, Jesus. We needed him because we were all sinners, and Jesus was the only Savior. It was not only the greatest gift because it provided eternal life, but because it shows us just how much God loves and cares for each and every one of us.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. “ (John 3:16)
The greatest gift of all wasn’t wrapped in a bow or stuffed into a Christmas stocking, it was sent to us in the form of a helpless baby that brought hope to a sinful world, that would one day die upon a cross that we may have eternal life.
What an amazing gift! We were given what we needed the most. A love that would last for eternity. As you seek to follow Jesus, please be reminded of how we should exemplify Christmas. “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” (John 15:12)
Let the gifts you give be from your desire to love and to bless others not only on Christmas but every day.
Merry Christmas everyone!
