The entire Christmas season has become so overly focused on gifting that this time of year completely stresses people out to their breaking point. It creates more anxiety, more debt, and loneliness. We stress ourselves out over getting the perfect gift for our loved ones who have everything they need so what do we get them. We overload our credit cards with purchases then we’ll spend the next year paying those debts off just to start all over the next Christmas. We forget to spend time, make phones calls or send cards to those who are actually in need whether it be food, clothes or company. Therefore loneliness kicks into an all time high as we run around gathering up gifts for people. We focus on the gifts. It’s all about the gifts. We’ve even taught our children, maybe unintentionally, to want every single toy, doll and game that comes before their little eyes. Our children make these never ending lists of toys they “want” so badly, they “just can’t live without”, but they have a room filled with just can’t live without toys. I am wondering what does all of this say about us. Are we a people after possessions or after the truth?

The truth is: Christmas is a national holiday that we, as a country, have set aside to honor, respect and celebrate the glorious virgin birth of Jesus Christ, the world’s Savior. A Savior who was born into this world in a dusty, drafty stable with only His earthly parents, God His Heavenly Father and the angels who witnessed His miraculous birth. A Savior who received 3 “gifts” not on the day of His birth, nor were those “gifts” under a Christmas tree all decorated up come morning. These “gifts” were brought to Him by the wise men who sought Him out due to the prophecy of His birth and He received them somewhere between birth and the age of 2. “And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.” Matt 2:11 KJV These “gifts” were representative of His path on earth. The gift of gold was symbolic of His divinity – God in flesh. The gift of frankincense was symbolic of His willingness to become a sacrifice, wholly giving Himself up. The gift of myrrh symbolic of the bitterness, suffering and affliction He would endure on the cross. Life, death and resurrection. Jesus as a child was given items that represented Him, respected Him and honored His path. He was not given toys, clothes and a stocking full of candy. His parents didn’t stress themselves out about what do we buy Him. They didn’t go into great debt to provide “I just can’t live without those toys.” Nor did they forget to gather together with family, both young and old, neighbors and friends. Mary, Joseph and Jesus, the first “Christmas” family, gathering represents what we leave out…. Pure Love.

So this year as you run around like a chicken with your head cut off trying to find that perfect gift for your loved ones who don’t honestly “need” anything, remember what that first “Christmas” was all about…family, love and giving…not receiving.

Lord God, my Heavenly Father, how can I ever truly thank You for everything You’ve given me and my family? Please oh please forgive me for taking so much for granted beginning with Your love and forgiveness for me, taking for granted the love of family held with the gatherings we have, and for ever thinking that buying that perfect gift was more important.