It's Christmas. It's the day someone said Jesus was born. Was it really December 25th that Jesus was born? Who knows and it doesn't matter one way or another. What matters is that God came down from heaven and became a human. He was born of a virgin, was given the name Jesus as it said He would be. He endured all the trials and temptations that you and I do. Through it all He never failed and was blameless, was crucified and three days later rose from the grave thereby defeating death and hell, making it possible for us to spend eternity with Him if we choose to. We can spend eternity with Him if we accept his free gift of salvation. A gift, not something we earn but something that is free for the taking if we want it. I never made my kids earn their Christmas presents and God doesn't make us earn ours. If we want it, reach out and accept it.
Around Thanksgiving I started tipping when I would order fast food. I would tip the lady behind the counter that would give me the eclairs I ordered. We helped a family who's house had burned down a couple of weeks ago. We made a donation through work to another family that was struggling to provide Christmas for their 12 kids. We don't know any of these people we helped but I pray that they know who provided these "gifts." It wasn't us. We just distributed them. If they haven't already done so, I hope they accept the greatest gift of all.
Nicole , Spencer and Ethan have moved to Connecticut. Cory was in St. George with a friend. We didn't put up a tree this year. No decorations were set out or hung on the mantle. We didn't have any "Christmas music" playing in the house or in the car. Kathy worked a lot of hours the last few weeks and didn't have much time for shopping. I didn't make my usual list of who's getting what and then getting to the store to buy what was on my list. Kathy bought a few things for Ethan and pretty much left it at that. She bought me a CD, I bought her a CD and a necklace. We woke up today and even though we didn't have a decorated tree, a decorated house, no Christmas music and only three presents to unwrap, it was still Christmas.
We spent the day at my mom and dads. We opened a few presents from them, ate and watched a few youtube videos. Laughed at some and cried at another. We came home and my sister Kathy and her son Josh came over and watched some football, ate cookies, candy and spent some time together. It was still Christmas.
I would have loved to pay Nicole and Spencer's house payment for the month. Bought them some wii games and gadget or two. Paid a trailer or truck payment for Cory. Maybe even bought him some more tools. Given Kathy an Alaskan cruise with a trip to Denali. Bought her some new clothes and new carpet. Then there is all the friends we know that we would really like to buy gifts for to show how much they mean to us through the year. It didn't happen and probably won't but, it's still Christmas.
It's Christmas because of the gift God gave to us. It was Jesus and what he did for us. Not because of the gifts we give or receive. If you received gifts from friends and family, awesome. If you were able to give gifts to friends, family and strangers, even more awesome. If you have accepted the greatest gift of all, let others know that they can have it too. It's a gift He wants all of us to have.
Merry Christmas, be a blessing and be blessed.
