by David Morgan, Lawrence County Executive
For most of us, the holiday season is a whirlwind of activities. There’s a long list of things to do – decorate the house, mail Christmas cards, bake treats, and plan holiday dinners. At the very top of the list is the task of finding the perfect gifts for those we care about.
It’s ironic that our incredibly commercialized Christmas still revolves around giving and receiving gifts. This tradition dates back to the very first Christmas when God gave the world the ultimate gift in the form of His Son.
Every time we exchange a gift, whether we realize it or not, we are acknowledging that first and greatest gift of all.
John 3:16 reminds us, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” It’s remarkable that the most profound gift of all came in such humble circumstances – a child born in a manger, wrapped in cloths that were likely tattered and dirty.
Often, God’s gifts come wrapped in unexpected and unpleasant circumstances. The gift of Jesus was initially rejected by many, and is still refused. Isaiah 53:3 describes Him as “despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces, He was despised, and we held Him in low esteem.”
Reflecting on your own life, think about the gifts that arrived in less-than-perfect packaging: an illness that brought your family closer together, an unexpected pregnancy that delivered a wonderful child into your life, or the loss of a job that opened the door to a better opportunity. Just as He did more than 2,000 years ago, God sees the bigger picture of our lives and delivers what we truly need, exactly when we need it.
As we strive to find the perfect gifts for our loved ones, Matthew 7:11 tells us even better gifts are ours: “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!”
In return for the greatest gift of all, God asks only that we have a relationship with Him. This privilege of communion with God is, in itself, yet another precious gift. Perhaps the most important lesson Christmas teaches us is how to receive gifts with grace and gratitude.
