We have a tradition in our family. On Christmas Eve, since my children were toddlers, we would put our Nativity set on the kitchen table and read the Christmas story from the Bible while putting the nativity characters in place at the appropriate time. When the story was over, we would sing a Christmas worship song to Jesus, and then I would pass out small squares of paper and pens. Each of us would write down what “gift” we wanted to give to Jesus in the coming year. We would date it and sign it and fold it up small to fit in a little corner of our Nativity barn.
The following Christmas, before we write about our new “gift,” we read aloud the “gift” we wanted to give the previous Christmas as a form of accountability and to measure if we were personally successful. Of course, when my children were little, we assisted them in writing, and over the years, the depth of the “gifts” have grown. This year, as we again participated in this tradition with my now adult son and his fiancé, I was reminded how important it is to take time to put a pause on the merry-go-round of life and focus on Jesus and the gift that He is to us all.
I was reminded how important it is to take time to put a pause on the merry-go-round of life and focus on Jesus and the gift that He is to us all.
God also impressed on me that true love urges us to give. Paul reminds us in Acts 20:35: You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Have you experienced this? Sure, it’s great to get that pair of shoes you’ve been wanting, but it really does not compare to the gift of bringing joy to someone else, does it? That blessing of knowing that God used you to bring a smile and His hope to another human being – it’s priceless!
That blessing of knowing that God used you to bring a smile and His hope to another human being – it’s priceless!
Now I know Christmas is done, over, past for 2020. Many of us are still putting away the wrapping supplies and remnants of the season. But the gifts God urges us to give are not limited to fitting under a Christmas tree one day of the year; they are not seasonal. The gifts He urges us to give are as endless as His creativity and compassion. Here are a few of His ideas:
A cup of cold water to the thirsty (Mark 9:41)
Take care of a widow who has no one to care for her (1 Timothy 5:3)
Share freely and generously with the poor (2 Corinthians 9:9)
The gifts God urges us to give are not limited to fitting under a Christmas tree one day of the year; they are not seasonal. The gifts He urges us to give are as endless as His creativity and compassion.
Speak words that build up and give grace (Ephesians 4:29)
Serve others with the unique gifts God has given you (1 Peter 4:10)
Give mercy (Luke 6:36)
Invite someone home for dinner (1 Peter 4:9)
Comfort others (2 Corinthians 1:3)
Pray for those who abuse you (Luke 6:27)
Be kind, tenderhearted, forgiving (Ephesians 4:32)
The list of ideas and examples goes on and on throughout scripture. The amazing thing about giving these gifts is that they also become gifts we give back to God, gifts of love to Jesus. So as we enter a brand new year, take the time to really think about the gift of Jesus, and ask Him to show you ways to, in turn, be a gift to those around you. Be creative with your unseasonal gifts, wrap them uniquely, and get ready to be blessed in return.
Kim Hughes
