Christmas is almost here. Gifts are nice, but having each other is way better! There is a guilt almost– when a parent can not afford gifts for their children for Christmas day. Why is that? Is this the response that Jesus wants from us?
The last decade I’ve felt this conviction to just want that personal relationship with God to be greater in this time of year. Of course I want things. Who doesn’t? But greater is he who is content with what he has. Can contentment bring us joy? Yes! My goodness– has God shown me this the last few years! Every Christmas funds have been bleak. We’ve had to learn the true meaning of Christmas time to time. We’ve learned what a blessing it is to have a church donate Christmas presents to our kids the last couple of yeaers. And I’ve learned how precious life can be.
How easy is it that we take our family for granted. I almost lost my husband, but it wasn’t his time. I was scared and praying like I never had in my life. I learned how merciful God is. That’s so valuable. I learned how valuable a body of believers are in the same faith– taking their time to pray, because they actually had the faith and believed. I learned how valuable my husband was to me. Gosh, it’s such a blessing to have someone as your best friend, side by side in life– sharing, getting frustrated, learning, loving, praying, parenting, playing music, exercising, talking, etc. What a gift. What a gift. And my kids too– they are a gift!
Perhaps our attention should be more on what we have then what things we want. The people around us are gifts! The things we take for granted are gifts! Gifts, gifts, all around us. And the best gift of all? The one who made all gifts possible. It’s not “Giftmas, ” it’s “Christ-mas”. “Mas” could be translated as “mass”– celebration (of Eucharist). But I’m thinking– I want to translate “mas” from spanish to english: More. More Christ please.
Of course I would like a few new pairs of jeans. But I can be patient with my only one pair of jeans without holes if I had mas Christ in my life.
