I Remember Christmas Gifts

article by PAUL LIPE
opinion expressed is that of the writer

I REMEMBER, when gifts at Christmas time were seemingly more important than they are today. There was day when we children looked forward with great expectations to the appearance of Christmas morn. Our parents had to almost tie us in bed to prevent our enthusiasm from causing us to outrun the sun to the first appearance of light. We could hardly wait to learn what marvelous gifts would emerge from those beautifully-wrapped boxes under the tree.

In the days prior to December 25th, we used to do our  best to discover just what our Christmas gift might be.  We would ask for hints or clues to give us some indication of what the gift’s “name” was.  And we would sometimes even pick up the gift from under the tree and give the package a shake, hoping we might discover the nature of our gift.

Now, with rare exceptions, parents can have breakfast prepared and on the dining table before the children make their appearances.  And often, these same children, without much protest, are willing to eat the meal before opening the gifts.  Things have changed, haven’t they?

How are we to explain this modification in our “Christmas conduct?”  From the very beginning of Christmas, giving gifts has been associated with this special day.  For instance, on the very first Christmas, Magi from the East came looking for the newborn King, and when they found Him, they presented Him with costly gifts. This practice of exchanging gifts has been a significant part of how we celebrate this very special holiday. However, recent generations have toned down the excitement level.  Why?

I believe that a major reason that Christmas gifts are less the producer of excitement is that they are not as rare as they were in past generations.  We have been blessed with a measure of affluence that has allowed us to regularly give gifts of love to those who are dear to us.  So when Christmas comes, the gifts have lost some of their glamor; they are merely “more of the same.”

In addition, some things that once may have seemed to be appreciated have lost their luster.  I recall a day that when my first grandchild was celebrating his third or fourth birthday, the initial gifts he opened were items of clothing. In frustration, he exclaimed, “Where are the presents?” Clothes just cannot hold a candle to toys!

To recover some of the excitement of Christmas and  the thrill that comes from our thoughts of gifts, perhaps we can be helped if we focus a bit more to that first Gift.  Do you recall this Bible statement?  “God so loved the world that He gave His only Son…”  Notice that it was love that prompted this Gift, and this Gift was announced by the angel who told the shepherds, “I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people! For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, Who is Christ the Lord.”  (Luke 2:10-11) This Gift is still the most needed and the most valuable Gift of all!

It is likely that sometimes we evaluate a gift by what it costs.  A new car clearly would be superior to a pair of boots because of what the car cost in comparison to those boots.  If we use this method of gauging the worth of a gift, it should be obvious that no gift ever came close to the price paid by God in the giving of His Son.  Doubtless the first Christmas Gift should rank above all others.  So, this year when we open or when we give gifts prompted by love, let us be grateful to our Lord for the matchless gift of eternal life, purchased for us by His death on Calvary’s cross!