I Remember: Remembering the Greatest Gift of All This Holiday Season

article by Paul Lipe

I REMEMBER how, as a youngster, Christmas was that special time of year when we received toys – and it was a much-anticipated holiday. We could not wait for December 25 to come – it seemed like it took forever, and whoever coined the phrase “As slow as Christmas” surely did have it right. However, for most children today, “Christmas” comes much more often as, throughout the whole year, grandparents and parents shower gifts on those little ones whom we love so much. Then, as December 25 approaches, we adults struggle to come up with something that the kids do not already have! How times have changed! Do you think that is why the malls start pushing Christmas items a couple of months before the big day – is it because we adults need a lot more time to select the right gift?

Probably most of us are pleased that our nation and, as a result, our families have been so blessed that our giving of gifts is not restricted to just one day a year. At the same time, many may be bothered that our prosperity has also resulted in the loss of grateful hearts; we have so much that one more gift does not make that much difference. For instance, getting a new bike may be nice, but the fact that we already have a pretty good bike can put a damper on our feeling of thanks. We are much poorer when we lose the grace of being thankful.
Trey, our oldest grandchild, sets a pretty high standard for our other Grands in the way he expresses gratitude. Every time the family is gathered and we are about to dig into one of my wife’s delicious meals, he will say, “Thank you for the food, Nana!” Most of the time, this happens even before we ask the Lord’s blessings on our feast. I know that this makes my wife feel appreciated, and it sets a good example for the rest of us. But what if no one said “Thank you” or, even worse, suppose we all let it be clear that the food was not to our liking? Nana would NOT be happy, and you all know what that means: if Nana is not happy, no one is going to be happy!

It is to everyone’s benefit, then, that when another person shows us some kindness, we respond with some expression of thanks. When another does something nice for us, our appropriate response is to let him know that we are pleased and grateful. That is the least we can do every time we are on the “receiving end.” It is especially important that we express our thanks to the One Who is the Source of every good that comes into our lives.

As much pleasure as I have in receiving gifts, something has happened to me as I have grown older — giving to others has become more fun than “getting” from them. Not much will warm my heart like seeing one I love take delight in something I have given them or something I have done for them. (To my children for whom this article is required reading: despite what I have just written, it is still O. K. for you to experience the joy of giving to your old Dad!)

Since Christmas is a time for giving gifts, it is also a time for giving thanks. With this in mind, please allow me to direct your thoughts toward that greatest of all Christmas Gifts and to the One Who gave that gift to us. And, if you have accepted that Gift, let me encourage you to express your thanks to Him Who gave His Best to those whom He loved so deeply.
Join me in doing this during the Christmas season – every time we give or receive a gift, let us take the time to stop and give thanks for God’s Gift of His Son. I am confident that the Lord will be pleased, and Christmas will start to take on its true meaning: that the true joy of Christmas is found in Jesus, as we receive Him and as we give to others in His name.
May your Christmas be filled with rich blessings as you celebrate the birth of the Lord.