Christmas is presents. I’m always amazed at the gift-wrapping abilities of some people. You can tell a lot of love goes into a well wrapped present! It makes tearing into them all the more enjoyable and perhaps even a little saddening. But it wouldn’t be Christmas without gifts. Each gift, whether well wrapped or not, is some small reminder of the greatest gift we’ve ever received. Even Jesus was well wrapped! A well swaddled baby is a beautiful (and usually quiet) thing!
We all appreciate gifts but the don’t always take the same form. Some people love physical gifts. Others are more likely to appreciate physical touch. Some people treasure quality time together above all else. What is really important to some is words of affirmation. Still others want to see service to a passionate cause to know they matter. This idea isn’t new. The idea that we love in different ways was popularized by the book, The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman.
While Jesus may be the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8) the gifts and graces to be shared are as various as the people on this planet. This is one of the amazing lessons of Christmas. Our presents don’t have to be well wrapped - they have to be well loved. That means thinking about what we give and how it will be received. There are times for small and easy gifts. The presents we give and receive at Christmas should (as best we can) reflect the love of God in the Christ-child. That’s a lot of love, but you can do it! You were made for this kind of thing. Actually, you are the love of God, wrapped beautifully in a package that will never exist in the same way ever again in this world. You are the only one of *you* and I can’t wait to see what God does through you.
We all appreciate gifts but the don’t always take the same form. Some people love physical gifts. Others are more likely to appreciate physical touch. Some people treasure quality time together above all else. What is really important to some is words of affirmation. Still others want to see service to a passionate cause to know they matter. This idea isn’t new. The idea that we love in different ways was popularized by the book, The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman.
While Jesus may be the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8) the gifts and graces to be shared are as various as the people on this planet. This is one of the amazing lessons of Christmas. Our presents don’t have to be well wrapped - they have to be well loved. That means thinking about what we give and how it will be received. There are times for small and easy gifts. The presents we give and receive at Christmas should (as best we can) reflect the love of God in the Christ-child. That’s a lot of love, but you can do it! You were made for this kind of thing. Actually, you are the love of God, wrapped beautifully in a package that will never exist in the same way ever again in this world. You are the only one of *you* and I can’t wait to see what God does through you.
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| Photo by Negative Space |
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