The Gift of Christmas

It's only twenty days until Christmas. I can't believe how quick it is coming this year. I wish we could stop the clock and slow time down. When I was a child it took forever for Christmas to arrive. Now that I'm an adult, it comes quicker than the blink of any eye.

This year we are doing something different. We are celebrating the "season of Christmas", rather than the day of Christmas. Jeff and I have decided not to buy gifts for each other and even the kids are getting a minimal amount of things this year. We'd rather save for a special vacation next year. We'd rather make the whole season of Christmas a gift.

We decorated the house the day after Thanksgiving and every night the four of us gather in the living room to light a candle, sing our advent song and read a story from the book "The 25 Days of Christmas." This has become a tradition for us since our kids were little. My kids look forward to it every night. This time together is a "gift" especially as they are growing up so fast.

My daughter Jordanne still believes in Santa Claus. I'm making the most of it, as this may be the last year that the jolly fellow stops by our house to leave gifts under the tree and in the stockings. We've even decided to make our Christmas morning a scavenger hunt so the kids have more boxes to open. I am going to put notes in wrapped packages and place them under the tree. Then each gift will lead them to the real one. It's called creative Christmas.

The other night Jordanne wrote a letter to Santa with pictures she downloaded from the internet. She wants an ipod, a wii game and of all things, the spotted elephant from the Island of Misfit Toys from the movie "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer." I've told her that even though Santa brings the gifts, we have to pay him for the ones he doesn't make, like video games and anything electronic. Jordanne wrote: "Dear Santa, I know that my parents have to pay for the electronic gifts so if they cost too much, I would like the spotted elephant from the Island of Misfit Toys. I know your elves can make this so it shouldn't be too hard to get."

After reading her letter, in my heart I knew that was the one gift that I would NOT be able to give her. Where in the world would I find the spotted elephant? That movie came out 30 some years ago. I want so much to make this Christmas special since we aren't doing the big gift giving.

Immediately I began searching the internet. I did find the spotted elephant, but it wasn't in the price range I was hoping for. I became anxious because I wanted to find that elephant. I even went on ebay looking for one. But they were all too expensive.

After scrambling around on the web, I had to run out to do some errands. I needed to make a stop at Target to pick up a gift that Justin had asked for. While I was there, I thought I should pick up some wrapping paper to wrap the few things I had. As I was looking at the paper, all of the sudden my eyes gravitated to the shelf of "Santa Clause is Coming to Town" ornaments. There, on the the bottom shelf was ONE gift set of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and the Spotted Elephant from the Island of Misfit Toys for only $14.99! Just one left!

Immediately, I heard the Lord say to me, "Jayme, if you know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will I, your Father in heaven give good gifts to you who ask Me!" (Matthew 7:11) I was so happy! I can't begin to explain how much I wanted to shout for joy while I was standing there. All I could do was thank Him over and over.

That moment in Target, was a gift to me from God. The Lord loves my daughter even more than I do and wants to surprise her with special things, even if it is from Santa Claus. It was a gift to me because He reminded me that He loves me too and that not only my "needs" matter, but my "wants" do too. Jordanne didn't need that elephant, she wanted it.

Over the years I've seen God do some amazing things. He has surprised me many times with "gifts" that I didn't expect. Probably the most important gift that I have received is the gift of His Son Jesus. With receiving the gift of Jesus comes the gift of salvation, the gift of wholeness, the gift of healing, the gift of hope, the gift of joy, the gift of peace, (the shalom kind), the gift of love, the gift of the Holy Spirit in my life, the gift of a personal relationship with Him, and the gift of spending eternity with Him.

Maybe this Christmas there won't be as many gifts under your tree as there had been in the past. But if you have received the gift of Jesus in your life, then you will find all those gifts I mentioned and more under the "Tree of Salvation" (the cross). "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

This gift of Christmas is not about material gifts. It is about the gift that God gave to us. The birth of His son Jesus Christ. So let's celebrate the gift that we've been given. If you haven't received this gift, I encourage you to do so. This is the gift that keeps on giving and you will have a life time of gifts to unwrap. Just like the "creative Christmas" we are having, God gives us the joy of unwrapping who He is as we seek Him. Matthew 6:33 says "Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Discover the gift of Christmas!

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen! Isaiah 9:6 & 7 (NLT)