Skip to main content

Presents or Presence?





I know what my kids are trying to do.  They’re instructing their children that Christmas is about someone not something.  And it’s working.

The request to us as grandparents this year was “just a few presents to place under the tree for the kids.”  I really tried hard to oblige them.  I really tried.  But then I spotted a “Fancy Nancy” storybook that I wanted to read with our six year old granddaughter!  And the games, kids love games!  Their parents should only know about the stuff I passed up! 

It worked out great and our Christmas visit with the kids makes me smile every time I think of it.  We decorated a birthday cake together and sang to Jesus.  Before Sookie blew out the candle she whispered her wish in my ear “I wish we can make a cake like this every day and all be together.”  Presents followed and as she opened each one carefully, she jumped into our laps and gave us a thank-you hug.  Each one!

I would say the lesson is being learned here.  It's about giving!  Christmas is about the Son of God leaving His heavenly home and coming down to earth as a baby only to grow up and accept Father God’s plan of redemption by dying for us a brutal death so we can be saved, delivered and free! 

Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people.  Luke 2:52 (NLT)

What we do see is Jesus, who was given a position "a little lower than the angels"; and because he suffered death for us, he is now "crowned with glory and honor." Yes, by God's grace, Jesus tasted death for everyone.  Hebrews 2:9 (NLT)

Merry Christmas!  Jesus is the reason we celebrate!

Comments

  1. SharonDecember 23, 2014 at 7:53 PM

    Yes, the best gifts are all about giving! And the best gift of all is Jesus, who gave everything for us!

    Mary, I wish you and yours a very MERRY CHRISTMAS. May your home be filled with His love, joy, peace, and hope!

    GOD BLESS!

    ReplyDelete
  2. FloydDecember 24, 2014 at 9:16 AM

    It truly is about giving. Thanks for the reminder. Merry Christmas to you and your whole clan. God bless.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Daisy House

I work at my desktop with the children at my feet.  A makeshift area rug made of white butcher paper lines the floor where the baby, crayon in hand, imitates her big sister.  Sister focuses on the finishing touches of the house she designed.  The catchy children’s song, Wheels of the Bus, blasts from the Toddler Station on Pandora Radio. Six year old Sookie unveils her masterpiece and I ooh and awe at the sketch.  “It’s a daisy house!”  I exclaim.  “I love the colors.  I wonder what the inside looks like.”  Without hesitating, Sookie describes each room.  “There are five rooms and they are all different colors.  One is Mint Chip, another Strawberry.  There is a Vanilla room, and a Cookies & Cream room and the last room is Rocky Road.  You have to wear a sweater inside because it is very cold.” “A house made of ice cream,” I reply.  “It sounds heavenly!” I dug into my Bible readings that morning ...
37 comments
Read more

A Memorial Day Reflection

  Memorial Day is always noteworthy for me and my girls.  Next Thursday marks the third year of missing their father, my husband. So many thoughts  run through my mind.  The journey of loss takes on various emotions.  The strongest feeling, at first, was emptiness.  In a split second, I would forget he departed forever.  I imagined things I needed to talk to him about when he got back home.  My mind is realistic now.  He's not coming back.  There will be no more times of sitting on the porch swing together on the front deck staring at the moon and the stars.  He would tell me all he knew about the majestic night sky. I have so much I wish I could tell him, like the excitement of seeing our oldest grandchild make a decision to follow Jesus and get baptized on Mother's Day!  And our little Amy, 11 years old, I wish he could have seen her on stage receiving her induction to the National Honor Society. Our daughters have their own ...
23 comments
Read more

The Final Chapter

Are you like me when you join a new group of people? Do you navigate the crowd wondering where you fit in the best?  I felt insecure when I joined Word Weavers, a Christian writing group in our town.  Liz and Tony welcomed me with their accepting smiles.  It meant a lot. I sat with Liz in a small critique group one week.  I leaned in close so we could share a writer’s paper together.  She mentioned she would passively kick back and listen because she felt sick that day.  Tony kept his eye on her walking over with a plate of cookies and a hug for his wife.  But Liz did not eat. Last week, Liz passed away.  I attended the memorial service where I learned that Liz was a dreamer and fought for her dreams up to the very end!  Liz’s dream, her third book Jamie , came true.  The publisher approved her manuscript and moved heaven and earth to get the story printed in book form and delivered to Liz.  ...
50 comments
Read more