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The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” Luke 2:10-11
In the early years of our marriage, we used flip phones instead of smart phones which meant no 24-7 news unless you were at home watching cable tv or in front of your computer. I worked in a small office and usually ate lunch alone. As Christmas rolled around, my husband, Steven, deduced that I would enjoy a print subscription to the Charlotte Observer to read during lunch. I promise - this was actually a great gift idea for the time, circumstance, and my general nerdiness. He sweetly managed to arrange for the first newspaper to be delivered to our home on Christmas morning.
Christmas Day arrived, and Steven told me to go look out the front window of our house for my gift from him. He stayed seated on the couch, excitedly waiting for my response, as I looked out the window. What I immediately saw was a shiny, new SUV, topped with a giant red bow, sitting in the street in front of our house. I was puzzled. I knew we couldn’t afford the SUV, but there was a car with a giant red bow outside my house, and my husband was telling me my gift was somewhere out there. Sensing that I hadn’t found the gift (but not knowing about the vehicle), Steven said that I may have to look a bit to find it. Looking around, I saw the newspaper in the driveway and realized it was my true gift, and that the car must be for a member of the family across the street. I wasn’t disappointed, but it did take me a minute or two to decide whether to pull one over on him and pretend that the car was a gift for me. Fortunately for him, I listened to my better angels and genuinely thanked him for the newspaper before telling him to come look out the window.
Reminding kids (and ourselves) of the true meaning of Christmas can be tough with all the fun of holiday decorations, parties, and gift giving. You mean there’s something better than candy canes, twinkle lights, and new toys and gadgets? Yes! God is with us. He loves us and has saved us. It’s good news.
Dear God, Thank you for your love, grace, forgiveness, and mercy. Help transform our hearts and hearts everywhere so that we can joyfully and gratefully receive these gifts. Help us all extend love, grace, forgiveness, and mercy the way Christ commanded and demonstrated, and with the humility that comes from knowing just how much we ourselves need the same. Amen.
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