Give. Receive.

One of my favorite parts of Christmas is the gift giving!  I don’t know about you, but I love finding just the right present for that special someone and wrapping it all up to look appealing – but by far, my favorite moment is watching the recipient’s face as they open their special gift from me. In fact, I’m fairly sure I am probably having a better time than they are in that moment. It’s not the item itself, but the unspoken message attached to my gift; the message that says, “I love you! You matter! I can’t wait to bless your socks off!” I joyfully anticipate the look on their face: “Whoa – for me? You thought of me?” It’s the face of the blessed that blesses me so very much.  No doubt about it, and I think you’ll agree, it feels good to give.

A few days after Christmas, I found a lone wrapped gift under our tree. It was kind of sad really. A treasure was lovingly wrapped in pretty paper and ribbons, but unfortunately, the treasure hadn’t been revealed.  Although the giver gave the gift, the receiver had not received it – not yet.  There was no crumpled tissue paper on the floor, no torn giftwrap or broken ribbons strewn about to indicate the glorious revelation – that moment when the transaction of love was delivered and received by that special someone.  And that’s just sad.  

Jesus said, “It’s more blessed to give than to receive.” So then it seems, the best way to bless someone is to gladly and gratefully receive the gift they give.  It completes the transaction. The receiver is blessed while the giver is blessed even more!  

Christmas is all about God giving us the greatest gift: His Son.  I suppose we can take that at face value, go to church on Christmas eve, sing “Silent Night”, and breathe a prayer of thanksgiving  but I wonder if that really blesses the Giver in the way He deserves to be blessed.  I don’t believe Christmas is simply about remembering God’s gift by putting little baby Jesus in our manger scene.  Knowing the name of Jesus is not the same as knowing Jesus.  

Imagine how blessed God-the-Giver would be if we chose to “unwrap” His gift and find out WHO this Jesus is, and what His birth, life and death really mean?  Why is Jesus the greatest gift and have I “unwrapped” the reality of all that means for my life?  Have I truly “received” Him and the message of love God means for me to hear? I believe when you do that, when you SEE Him as He is, your face will light up with wonder and joy like a child on Christmas morning.  It is the reflection of the astonishing revelation that you really, truly are absolutely and unconditionally loved by God Almighty.  

Open up His Gift - and enjoy His life!