“font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;”>There is a wonder about Christmas as well as a season associated with giving. There is a wonderful briskness in the air and a glow on the faces of many shoppers.
“font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Verdana;”>There seems to be a purpose for those in the stores, though the planned shopping lists of “Thanksgiving Friday” shoppers disintegrate into a hurried frenzy by Dec.24. During the closing deadline of shopping hours, we’ll just grab at anything that Aunt Gail can smile at when she unwraps it, even if no one can think of anything she really wants or needs.
“font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Verdana;”>This season also finds many people feeling stressed. Instead of being able to give out of thoughtfulness and love, we often give because it is expected (whether real or self-inflicted).
“font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Verdana;”>I recently heard about one couple who had more than 90 people they felt obligated to remember with a gift ,but they are not in a position to give what they feel are noteworthy gifts, No wonder the joy of giving falls away to a sort of panicked despair.
“font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Verdana;”>I feel it is time to refresh our giving with a truth from Scripture:”Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give, not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7). However, the question is, can we give cheerfully this Christmas?
“font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Verdana;”>Only in giving this way can we emulate the great Gift of Christmas, described in John 3:16:”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.”
“font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Verdana;”>Was our Father cheerful that night he sent his Son to lie in the manger-hay of Bethlehem’s’ rejection? He doubtless wept as he traced Jesus’ path to the cross’s torture and triumph. Like Jesus, Who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross” (Hebrew 12:2), the Father tempered his pain with anticipation of the happiness and freedom that would be available to all of the recipients of his Gift.
“font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Verdana;”>And so God gave, not reluctantly or because he was forced by popular opinion, but because he loved. No store-bought gift would do for those he held dear, it must be homemade.
“font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Verdana;”>His choice of gift also was not an optional trinket for the man or woman who has everything. He gave the only possession that we don’t have and really need. He did not give a thing, an object. He gave himself-a costly Gift in the extreme, so expensive that many reject the Gift because of the obligation they know they incur upon acceptance.
“font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Verdana;”>However, this is where the Christmas mystery unfolds. Only by opening the first Gift do we truly comprehend the real significance of giving and receiving gifts.
