We loved watching our grandchildren open their gifts on Christmas morning. With great anticipation, they ripped away ribbons and paper. As each gift was revealed, they would squeal with joy and look for someone to run to and hug in appreciation. Their thankfulness was a gift to us! One Christmas, my daughter asked her children to leave one gift for last. It was a beautifully wrapped package without a name. After all other gifts had been opened, she allowed them to bring the mystery package from under the tree. The lid of the package was easy to pull off, revealing an empty box. “This,” she explained, “is for the gift you will give to Jesus.” Then, as each child explained what their gift would be, she wrote it down on a small card and let them place it in the box. This simple act brought all of the festivities of the season into perspective.
Gift giving at this season has become one of the most deeply embedded traditions in our culture. This presents a unique challenge for Christians. While we have the opportunity to consider those in need and to give gifts as an expression of our love for the special people in our lives, we have to be on our guard. It is easy to get caught up in the commercialism that surrounds us. Gift giving can get out of hand, become a burden and lose any significance. The focus of the season can become stuff. One Christmas, I had the opportunity to deliver gifts to needy families in our community. Upon arriving at one house, I was greeted by ‘Oh…just put that over there.” I was stunned to see a huge pile of gifts that were spilling out from under a well decorated tree. I left that home feeling empty and wondering how often our giving is misdirected and unappreciated.
We need traditions, especially traditions that are faith based and center on worship. They are like stones of remembrance (Josh. 4:21-22) that keep us mindful of what our God has done and is doing. The Christmas season presents special blessings and unique challenges for Christians. It is a blessing to set aside a special time to worship and honor God. Christmas is the only time of year when the story of Christ’s miraculous birth is widely told. Recorded in Luke, chapters 1 and 2, and Matthew, chapters 1 and 2, the account is staggering…and breathtaking in it’s fulfillment of scores of prophecies. That The Word became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14)….the very Word who spoke, “let there be light!” came into our world as a new born baby to dwell among us ….how can we begin to comprehend such a thing? That God, who gives us life and everything we have, gave us the most amazing gift of all, His Son “that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:17).
Now the holiday is a memory. Families (mostly moms…) are beginning to put away all of the Christmas decorations. The trappings of the holiday season are quickly fading, leaving a little bit of a void….after all, seasonal displays started appearing before leaves started falling from the trees! I remember as a young child sitting on my swing in the backyard on a Christmas afternoon and thinking, is this all there is? I’ll never forget that feeling. There is no lasting happiness in stuff, even for a child. If the focus has been on material things, on decorations, parties and stuff, there will be a void as we face the coming weeks and months. If the focus has been on God’s gift to us in Christ, we can experience joy and peace in the year ahead, like a gift we open every day. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. “ It kinda makes you want to squeal for joy and find someone to hug!