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“Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, ‘Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.’” — Mark 12:41–44 (NIV)
Christmas for me has always been a time when family and friends get together to share gifts with each other. The giver can’t wait to see their faces light up when they open it. The giver often seemed happier than the receiver, after weeks of anticipation to share something precious that they spent hours, if not days, thinking about and finding the perfect gift, without concern for anything in return.
Sometimes a gift is as simple as a handmade ornament from your young child or an all-day get together with friends and family to make batches of Christmas cookies to pack up and give to other friends and family, all the while enjoying the time rolling out the dough and decorating the sugar cookies in bright colors and lots of sprinkles!
I remember one time as a young child, a week before Christmas, helping my mom and family make and pack up two large boxes full of a warm homemade Christmas dinner – turkey, fixings and right-out-of-the-oven homemade apple pie. Our entire family of 7 then piled into our station wagon to drive to an unknown family’s house, where my mom and dad walked up to the door while we waited in the car watching with anticipation. We were not a well-off family, but our church had a list of families in real need, so my parents did what they could. As we were struggling to make ends meet back then, my parents still felt we could give it to another family that actually needed it more than we did. I will never forget the generosity and the memory of that giving, even when you have little to give, it brings joy to everyone around you. We all felt very blessed on the way back home and I will never forget it.
Many years ago, God shared the most special gift of all, his only son, for us, and it all starts on Christmas day when Jesus is born in a manger in Bethlehem. Let’s all make this a holiday of giving, and the joy it will bring you and others will be remembered for years to come by those you’ve touched with your generosity.
Gracious and loving God, thank you for the precious gift of your son, the best Christmas gift of all. May we all try to be generous to others at this time of need where just providing food on the family table sometimes can make one of the best gifts of all and bring joy and happiness to all. Amen.
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