Home » Christmas - The Gift of Love
Christmas - The Gift of Love
Posted: Saturday, December 19, 2009
by Mark Parsec
Wordcasters
Well, Christmas day is almost upon us. Everywhere you look there are Christmas decorations: trees and tinsel, angels and ornaments, bright colored lights, gold and silver bells, candles and candy canes.
Even the sounds of Christmas surround us: jingle bells and old carols, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Away in the Manger and Silent Night.
The air too is filled with all of the delightful aromas of the season: cinnamon and spices, frankincense and myrh, pine and poinsettias, fresh baked cookies, turkey and glazed ham.
Yes, Christmas day is almost upon us. Are you ready? Are you ready for Christmas day?
I have to admit, I had trouble getting ready for Christmas this year. Oh, it wasn’t the sights and sounds and aromas that I was not ready for. It wasn’t even the prospect of receiving a special gift from a loved one… I’m ready for THAT.
No, the thing that I wasn’t ready for was… gift giving. Oh, it wasn’t that I couldn’t. And I have finally gotten gifts for all of my loved ones. But, the thing I struggled with, the problem I had, the dilemma I faced which caused me sleepless nights, was getting a gift for one particular person.
So, I’ll confess right here and now, I have had a problem with one of my stepsons. You see, he has been such a terrible child lately. I was so disappointed with him and so hurt and so angry that I considered not getting him anything at all for Christmas, just to prove a point.
Well, that was about the time the Lord got a hold of me and sat me down for a talk. And He spoke to my heart and He said…
“So, my son, you don’t believe your boy should get a gift from you this year, do you?”
“No, Lord.”
“Why, my son?”
“Well, because he has been simply terrible. I don’t think that he loves me at all, Lord.”
“Has he been rebellious and rude?” the Lord asked.
“Yes, Lord.”
“Has he been inconsiderate and thoughtless?”
“Yes, Lord.”
“And I suppose he has been, selfish and self-centered?” the Lord emphasized.
“Yes, Lord. He has been simply terrible!”
“I understand” the Lord replied.
“So, what should I do, Lord?” I asked.
“I have an idea” the Lord replied, “Give him a gift.”
“But… but… he doesn’t deserve a gift” I argued.
“EXACTLY!” the Lord emphasized.
There was silence in heaven for about an hour as I pondered the things that the Lord had said in my heart. Then suddenly, it all became so clear.
It seems that God’s very own children, you and me, and all of mankind, have been absolutely terrible since the beginning of recorded history. We haven’t really proven at all that we love our Heavenly Father. The people of this world have been rebellious and rude, inconsiderate and thoughtless, selfish and self-centered.
The whole world is filled with crime and corruption, greed and guilt, waste and war.
And how did God feel about the people that He created? In Genesis 6:5-6 the Bible says, “Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.”
Yes, the Lord was disappointed with His children too, and He could have utterly wiped us off the face of the earth, but He did not.
The Bible tells us in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16 NKJ).
God gave the greatest gift of all to the world… His only begotten Son! And the sad, fact of the matter is we didn’t deserve Him! That is what true gift giving is all about.
In Romans 5:8 the Apostle Paul said, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
You see, God didn’t wait for us to prove how good we were before He showed His love to us by sending His Son to us. He knew we could never be good enough. He sent His own Son to be born into this world knowing that He would die at our hands. Why? Because He loves us.
If you really want to celebrate Christmas this year remember those who are unlovable. Remember those with whom you are disappointed and angry. Remember those who “don’t deserve” your kindness. And don’t just remember them… love them. That is the greatest gift of all and the meaning of Christmas.
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Top-level comments on this article: (7 total)
» left by Anonymous 2 years 38 days ago.
The time to give one's child a gift is NOT when he's been good but when he's been awful;that's the time to cement a relationship with a gift to get close enough to do some real good.
Santa was dead wrong about the implied gift withholding("He knows when you've been good or bad")Paul Schroeder
» left by Anonymous 2 years 38 days ago.
Hi Paul,
So right you are! I believe we see eye to eye on this.
Mark
» left by Anonymous 2 years 38 days ago.
Your article is in the nick of time for me -- my granddaughter has been pretty tough on us for a while and our thought processes were much like yours. I'll reread and think.
» left by Anonymous 2 years 37 days ago.
Hi Anonymous,
I hope you find the solution on what is the best way to handle your grand-daughter's situation.
God bless you,
Mark
» left by ELLA
from TEXAS 2 years 37 days ago.
SUCH SIMPLE HONEST GOODNESS IS RARE AT ANY TIME OF THE YEAR- YOUR ARTICLE IS POIGNANT.- ELLA
» left by Anonymous 2 years 37 days ago.
Hi Ella,
Glad to see you made it to Blogz. I would love to have you as an author here. You are so right... this type of behavior would be good all throughout the year.
God bless you,
Mark
» left by hilda
from malaysia 2 years 37 days ago.
Indeed! I really really love this one you wrote for all of us before Christmas comes to give a gift to the unloving child. What a shame that we always think we are right not to love the bad child in the family but in fact that bad child is us too! No difference. Bad child needs gifts too.
Mark, God is so wonderful to let you realize on time to give a gift to your stepson as well!
Have a blessed Christmas !
Hilda
» left by Anonymous 2 years 36 days ago.
Hi Hilda,
Thank you for your comments. I might have struggled with getting a gift for my son, but I don't think I would have been able to prevent myself from getting him something. Someday he may come to realize my love for him.
God bless you,
Mark
Beautiful analogy and well written! Marijo
» left by Anonymous 2 years 36 days ago.
Hi Marijo,
Good to hear from you. Thank you for your comments. I sure would love to see one of your articles at Blogz!
God bless you,
Mark
» left by Anonymous
2 years 26 days ago.
Mark,
It is so real and practical your article. It with such humility and humbliness I have been in you same position numerous times. I reflect and hold dear to your discourse. I appreciate you sharing and solution to a decision we all are faced with on daily basis.
Thank you my friend and brother in Christ.
Sincerely,
Lawrence
» left by Mark Parsec from Blogz 2 years 26 days ago.
Hi Lawrence,
Thank you for your comments. May you have a blessed New Year.
Mark Parsec
» left by Anonymous
1 year 350 days ago.
Mark I really like this alot. Sometimes in life we do have to award badness to get results.
Hi Anonymous,
Thank you for your comments. I am glad that you enjoyed this article.
Mark
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