I love this time of year! There’s just something in the air. Last night I finished wrapping the Christmas gifts and now can hardly wait to be together with family to celebrate. As I was wrapping, a memory from long ago came to mind – not that I remember actually but, I remember the story being related to me over the years, especially at this time of year. The story is about a little girl, two and half years old, who caused quite a stir one Christmas. Oh yeah, that little girl was me. My parents, baby brother and I had been invited to a friend’s home for dinner a couple of days before Christmas. Apparently the dinner conversation at the table was so interesting that the adults did not notice that the little girl had slipped away and had not been seen for quite some time. Hmmm… where could little Mary be? My parents got up to look for me, followed by their friends. And then they found me… in the living room, by the Christmas tree sitting in a pile of wrapping paper and ribbon having a wonderful time. I had ripped the paper off of every present under the tree! I wasn’t at all interested in the gifts, but in all the shiny paper and ribbon. I cannot imagine how mortified my parents must have been! These friends had no idea now what presents were for whom, or who had given them what. Of course, I was oblivious to all of that.
I’m wondering today how many of us overlook the Gift at Christmas. We get caught up in all the hustle and bustle, the glitter and glee so easily. Just as I, so many years ago sat amidst the shiny paper not aware of the things of more value – the gifts that had been enclosed in the paper, how many today overlook what is the most valuable gift of all? Christmas is the celebration of God’s gift to mankind, in the person of Jesus. The gospel of Luke recounts the angel’s message to the shepherds: “I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” John 3:16 tells us “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
So as we enjoy the giving and receiving of gifts, the wonderful family time, good food and celebration, let’s be mindful of the reason for the season – the coming of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus the Messiah. Let’s not forget the Gift.
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