Thank You, I'd Like That

Christmas is all about gifts. We search high and low for the perfect “somethings” for those special people in our lives simply because we want to illicit that sharp intake of breath and exhale of surprised joy. We scour toy stores in order to obtain the one item for which a child has pinned all his or her hopes on Santa to bring, lest he or she be disappointed in their hero. We trade homemade gifts with neighbors and we even share a little something with coworkers because even the most irritating people look less so against the halo of light emanating from our Christmas spirit. We make sure the homeless have a place to sleep and a proper holiday meal, we toss change into Salvation Army pots as we shop, and we donate gifts to names on the community tree. It all adds up to a lot of giving, a lot of buying, and a lot of gifts. Although this seems to be a testimony on materialism, I can’t help but see a different perspective here.

From the Christian point of view, Jesus is a gift to us from God; a gift of Himself given to lowly and privileged alike. Not earned. Not bought. Not deserved, but given anyway...and, what’s more, given with a love that expects nothing in return. Such a perfect gift, given in such perfect spirit. In our best moments, our giving can come close to this same spirit. Yet, it has occurred to me that this Christmas theme of giving is only half of the story about gifts. Acceptance, the theme of the final week of the Advent season reminds me that the giving of gifts is not complete unless the gifts are received.

Now, I’m not sanctioning a “gimme, gimme, gimme everything I want” kind of attitude, but just a gentle consciousness that people in our lives work hard and sacrifice to give to us all the time. Yet, pride or embarrassment or stubbornness often keeps us (er, me, let’s be honest) from accepting it.
“Ah, no thanks, I’m fine.”
“Oh, no. I can do it. Thanks anyway.”
“Naw, that’s too much trouble.”
And the most beautiful, selfless gift that people offer us, but that we tend to either take for granted or shrug off as not necessary, is their time and themselves.

So this year I am going to enter Christmas and the New Year with a spirit of acceptance as well as that of giving. I am reminding myself that I can’t do everything alone and that I need to say yes to help sometimes. For faith, hope, love, safety, freedom, friendship, family and the miracles of everyday life, I am thankful and blessed and I send wishes for all of the same out to every one of you. Don't forget, miracles happen to those who believe in them...