The Gift - Let's be Thankful

Tuesday - December 23, 2008

For many people this date is here too soon. Many of us procrastinate when we have decorating, cooking, cleaning, or even shopping to do in time for Christmas. I don't remember Mom and Dad being rushed to get ready for the holidays. May have been because it was kept simple - we received one really nice gift that wasn't a necessity (and not expensive) while the others were items we needed. When I think back about what the majority of the kids from school received as gifts I would think - oh my! So young and they were getting everything they wanted! Will life always be that way - not necessarily. There were other students who were lucky if they received one gift - for those students my heart ached for them as they listened to some of the others bragging about all they had received!!

I (We) have always tried to pick out presents we really thought the recipient would enjoy. It was usually something they were interested in or seemed to suit their personality. I have heard many former students talk about family members who would take all their gifts back to the stores; get cash back; then go buy something else. It appeared that with many of these families it was a tradition to do that. My question would be - "Why shop for them; go ahead and just give them money." I can only imagine how the giver felt when their gifts were returned. What ever happened to the spirit of giving and the receiver being thankful and appreciative? Do you suppose that Mary, Joseph, or baby Jesus told the Wise Men that they didn't like the gifts they brought?

11On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.

Matthew 2: 11 (NIV)

I'm sure we have all received gifts we wondered as to why it was being given to us!!! I think back to my grandparents and them buying my brothers and me socks every year for Christmas - it was a gift we really loved because they did it with love and with very little money to spare. It truly was a gift of love, just like the Wise Men's gifts were!

I have many special "little" gifts that mean the world to me - two caroling angels, a Christmas bell, a quilted bed spread, a quilt, a doll, a hand made bedspread, an afghan just to name a few. Why are they special - not because they were expensive, but because the giver chose that gift just for me with love! There is a story behind each of those gifts that I might share with you some day. I'm not saying that I haven't loved all the gifts I've received because I have. When I retired and was packing up my "stuff." Oh my, the things I had saved - most were little things given to me by former students! I have a salt-n-pepper set that was given to me by one of the students when I did my student teaching - oh my - 38 years ago. I can still remember her smiling from ear to ear. I was thinking at the time - why would I need these - Mom has all kinds!! I kept them and still use them! :)

Speaking of former students - I recently received an e-mail from two of my students who wanted me to know that I had made a difference in their lives. That was an early Christmas gift! As we get older we think back and see that certain people - parents. grandparents, and even teachers - only did what we did because we felt it would be in their best interest! To those two beautiful ladies - thank you for the early Christmas presents!

I (We) are so thankful for God sending his only Son to earth to save us all from sin. Someday, we will all be together with our Lord and loved ones who have already gone Home! We all need to believe, repent, and live the life God want us to live. We all need to be thankful everyday - for Jesus, the promise of our salvation, family, health, our freedoms, and the love of family.

We both want to wish you a very Merry Christmas and hope that the time you have with family and friends will be a blessing to you all! Be thankful and tell them you love them!