December 21
I SEEK THE SON OF GOD
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,
that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
I can only presume that this world got into the gift-giving business because they had someone else in mind to do the job. That’s why Santa was invented in the first place. The countless hours spent in rushing from store to store attest to the fact I’ve always suspected: there is no such person as Santa Claus. If there was such a being, I wouldn’t be spending the better part of my free time rushing, buying and more rushing.
I thought I had the gift business under control. I’ve picked up a few gifts here and there, made a few special gifts, gave the kids money for their teachers’ gifts and mailed off my overseas parcel a month ago. Theoretically, I shouldn’t have a thing to worry about.
I’d forgotten about that sudden surge of the ‘guilts’ that hits everyone just before Christmas. You know what I mean. “Did I get enough presents for the kids? Maybe I should have bought that scarf for Mom. Do the neighbors still expect something from us – I can’t remember if they gave us anything last year? I forgot the mailman!”
And so out I rush, and in three hours, I’ve reached the lowest possible ebb of Christmas despair. One the dregs remain on the store shelves and I certainly wasn’t going to find that scarf for Mom, much less something appropriate for the mailman or another toy for each kid. But, I keep on searching. Desperately I race from store to store, oblivious of the pitying looks or the store clerks. They know a guilt-ridden shopper when they see one.
When it’s over, I feel even more guilt ridden as I think about the number of times I whipped out my card – cha ching! I know I’m going to have to deal with it all when the bills come in next month.
Why did I think that I had to buy more, wrap more, give more. Is it because I believe that the quantity of the gifts will assure every one of my love? Do I truly think that people keep score of who gives what and how much it cost? Do I keep score?
Oh, we’ve lost the battle against this world’s Christmas when we start to think that way.
Instead, I need to remind myself that God takes care of me and gives me all that I need. No earthly gift can measure up to the gift of his son. No other gift can be so full of love, so powerful, and so much an assurance of how much God loves me.
MEDITATION: Holy God, Giver of Life, thank you for the gift of your Son. Thank you that I am saved through that gift and that eternal life is mine. Amen.
more quiet spaces 