My Only Gift Option

I've officially finished my Christmas shopping, at least I think I have.  I always seem to forget someone, then I end up in a mad scramble, vowing to never do that again...until next year :).  This year's shopping has been a special challenge, as I've had to do most of it with two little ones in tow, including one in a halo (which by the way is NOT cart friendly - let's just say he got stuck a lot).  But, it's finished, and I'm ready for Christmas!

This year, our family decided to be very intentional about teaching the meaning of Christmas.  To be honest, I have a really hard time with all the Christmas stuff (like Santa, gifts - not giving gifts, but buying gifts for people I barely know, just for the sake of giving them something, and just the general consumerism and commercialism of Christmas with the complete loss of Christ).  Jason, on the other hand, does a much better job of blending both the spiritual and commercial aspects.   Anyway, we've been doing an Advent reading each night from the Bible along with a Christmas story, song, and lighting of candles.  Our kids are still young, but they've really enjoyed it, and our two year old asks Daddy every night if he's going to read the Bible...sigh.  We set out to do it for the kids, but it has been such a meaningful time for me as well.  The children's books that explain the birth of Christ make it so simple to understand, and they have really helped me focus on the true meaning of Christmas.

Here are a few of the books we used:

Here's Ian, pretending to read the Bible, like Daddy - but really retelling the Christmas story

Then I started thinking about gifts, double and triple checking my lists.  I know it sounds kinda silly, but what has been on my heart very heavily for days is that I can buy gifts for family and friends as a way to show my love for them, but I can't do that with God.  There is nothing I can bring to Him.  In reading through Advent, I was reminded of Hebrews 10:5-7 Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said (to God the Father): "Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; with burnt offerings and sin offering you were not pleased.  The I said, "Here I am - it is written about me in the scroll - I have come to do your will, O God."  The only gift option I have to bring before my holy and perfect God is joyful, heartfelt obedience.  

In a crazy season like Christmas, it can be easy to forget why we celebrate Christmas.  I could easily go on a crazy rant here about what Christmas has become, but for my husband's sake, I'll spare you :).  Yes, Christmas is about family and friends and giving gifts, but in our hearts, it really needs to be about Christ.  Like I said earlier, I can only offer my life as a sacrifice of praise - with joyful and heartfelt obedience, but I can't do that perfectly.  I can't do anything perfectly - not even close (for those of you who know me, you can stop laughing now!).  On Christmas Day, we celebrate God sending His Son to redeem us from our sin and eternal death.  On Christmas Day, He began His journey to become our perfect righteousness.  As a follower of Christ, I can freely come before the throne of grace, wearing the perfect righteousness of Christ.  He freely chose to sacrifice Himself to give that to me.

I'm sure we'll remember this Christmas as the one when Ian had a broken neck, but I also want to remember it as the first year we truly shared and taught what Christmas really means for those who have placed their faith in Christ.  Just a thought, but I would encourage you to think about what Christmas means to you and what it looks like for your family.  When you think about the legacy of faith you might like to leave, what you do and teach at Christmas can be part of that!  Merry Christmas!