December 25, 2020
And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen… Luke 2:20
You know those quaint images of Christmas morning, mostly from TV commercials and movies, of children rising before dawn to peek at what’s under the tree, and then waking their parents to get the festivities started? Well, Christmas morning was never like that at our house. Our children liked to sleep, so even when they were at the most excitable age, we had to wake them up on Christmas morning because we couldn’t wait any longer. And then, instead of indulging in the typical present-unwrapping frenzy that takes only a few minutes, both Ross and Maria liked to play with each gift they unwrapped. He’d want to try out the computer game and she had to read the picture book or set up the play kitchen and start “cooking.” We didn’t hurry them because we always enjoyed seeing how much they appreciated each gift.
Those days provide a sweet reminder to me to consider my own appreciation (or lack of it), especially concerning God’s gifts. God loved the world and everyone in it so much that he gave us His Son, a gift we are reminded of every Christmas, a gift we can savor and appreciate every day. My children aren’t little anymore, but the lesson they taught me lives on. This Christmas I plan to take my time savoring God’s great gift of Jesus and showing my appreciation for Him, in worship, devotion, and prayer. I can’t think of a better way to spend Christmas Day. (or the Christmas season).
Gina Bridgeman