31 Days to Christmas Day 18: Gifts

As I think about today's topic of gifts, each phrase I think to write comes from the song I have posted below. 

As little children we would dream of Christmas morn

Of all the gifts and toys we knew we'd find

Think back to Christmases when you were a small child.  Here's how I remember it.  The gifts under the tree would start to accumulate.  Whenever Mommy and Daddy weren't looking, I'd hurry over and peek at each of the tags.  To Aunt Karen and Uncle Ron, To Sarah, To Larry, To Jessica!  That's me!  This one's mine!  Then I'd check every couple days to see if there were any more.  I would pick them up to see how heavy they were and try to guess what was inside.  Christmas morning, we'd come downstairs to see more gifts "From Santa" and full stockings!!  

But we never realized a baby born one blessed night

Gave us the greatest gift of our lives

We were always taught about that baby, but like it says, as little children, we really cannot grasp that all those presents cannot possibly compare to the gift that our Father in Heaven gave to us by sending His Son.  We still may not be able to grasp it completely, but we can look at that Gift in the same way, with the same joy and the same excitement and the same anticipation as we looked at gifts when we were little children.  

As the years went by we learned more about gifts

The giving of ourselves and what that means

On a dark and cloudy day a man hung crying in the rain

All because of love 

All because of love 

Oh my.  Is that what giving of ourselves truly means?  He gave us His all.  His love.  His life.  What more can we do than give that back to Him?  

We were the reason that He gave His life

We were the reason that He suffered and died

To a world that was lost He gave all He could give

To show us the reason to live

We give toys, movies, clothes, games...at Christmas, but what if we decided to make this Christmas about giving something bigger.  What if each one of us decided to give all we could to the Lord this Christmas.  He gave us everything.  What can we give back to Him except for our lives?  

I finally found the reason for living

It's in giving every part of my heart to Him

In all that I do every word that I say

I'll be giving my all just for Him, for Him

Even though nothing we do can ever be enough, that doesn't mean we stop giving.  This year, with each present that you wrap, with each card you sign, with each bow you put on, think about the incredible gift He gave to you and how you can give your heart to Him.  

Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.