The Christmas season has become so
commercial, hurried, and even stressful at times. There are so many things on
our to-do lists. At the same time, it is the season to cherish family and
friends, to experience joy by giving gifts and to enjoy the lights and
Christmas music. Each year, as I think about Christmas, I become joyful, and at
the same time, anxious. My senses bathe in the Christmas sights and sounds, and
yet I fret over what I should buy everyone on my Christmas list, when I know
they already have everything.
This year I thought about adding God to my
Christmas list. Now, that is someone who definitely has everything He wants.
What could I possibly give God? Naturally, the first thing that comes to mind
is to give God thanks for all the blessings He has bestowed upon me. I have
much for which to be thankful. I decided to Google Bible verses about giving
gifts to God and what kind of gifts please Him. Do you know what came up? Lists
of gifts God gives to us! There was one verse that I remembered from Psalms 51:16-17:
For you have no delight in sacrifice;
if I were to give a burnt
offering, you would not be pleased.
The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O
God, you will not despise.
A broken and contrite heart is when one
experiences sorrow for the sins he has committed, a deep genuine sorrow causing
one to become humbled. I have felt this many times, more than I can count. I
pray that God will forgive me and guide me in the future. I know in my heart
that all God desires is that we love Him and love our fellow human beings. He
asks us to be kind and compassionate, generous and caring. In the hustle and
bustle of this season of Christ’s birth, I have decided to make it a priority
to truly enjoy and appreciate those who He has placed in my life, my friends,
family, co-workers and all the students He has entrusted in my care. I will
enjoy even the passersby in my life, who I may only meet once in my life, my fellow
shoppers, salespeople, drivers, everyone. I will slow down long enough to
experience the joy of the Christmas season.
This means that I will forgive the crazy
driver who cuts me off, almost hitting my car, to take the parking space I was
pulling in to. I will politely forgive the shopper, who jumps in front of me to
hurriedly grab the last item on the shelf that I was reaching for. I will
forgive the rude salesperson, who becomes impatient with me because I cannot
find my credit card in my purse. Forgiveness is the greatest gift we can offer
God, especially if we forgive those who have hurt us deeply without cause.
Christ is our example. He never sinned,
which means He never hurt anyone. He was always kind and compassionate, full of
love for everyone. Yet, He was rejected, mocked, beaten and crucified. Some
were offended by the truth He spoke, but even the truth did not warrant
such hostility and violence. As Jesus hung dying on the cross, He forgave His
executioners and all those who hated Him. His heart remained pure. This is the
purpose of forgiveness. We forgive to keep our hearts pure, free from
bitterness and hatred.
Join me this Christmas season in giving a
gift to God. Appreciate all those who He has placed in your lives. Spend quality
time with your friends and family. Thank God and thank all those in your life
who have blessed you. Show kindness and compassion to everyone you meet. Forgive
everyone. Reconcile with anyone from whom you may be estranged. Put the
bitterness and ill-feelings in the past. When you do, you will truly experience
the joy of Christ and have greater cause to celebrate his birth.
© 2017 Helen Kamenos
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http://www.helenkamenos.com/