How many of you went shopping for Christmas gifts last Friday? How many got into the frenzy that's became known as "Black Friday"? How many of you crawled out of bed...probably not many hours after you went to bed...and braved the crowds and the cold and stood in long lines to get that perfect gift...that bargain? I've been there, done that myself....but not in several years. Our family doesn't exchange gifts like we used to. As we've all gotten older, we've come to realize that the true meaning of the season just seems to get lost amongst all the hustle and bustle...and STRESS!!! We buy for the little ones...but most of us "big ones".....already have pretty much what we need....and want!!!!
We get together....and enjoy each other's company....and find that's enough!!!
Of course...we all know...that giving gifts originated with Jesus' birth:
Matthew 2:11
And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.
But...Jesus Himself....was the absolute greatest gift of all:
2 Corinthians 9:15
Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
I love how the New Living Translation defines "unspeakable":
Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!
"too wonderful for words"
That's because there are no words to even begin to convey what He's done for us.
Yes...we celebrate His birth this Christmas season....but....it was His death....and more importantly....His RESURRECTION....that means so much to us who have invited Him to live in our hearts!
James 1:17
Every good and every perfect gift is from above....
In His Most Precious Love....and with mine!!!
I was one of those nuts. My sister and her hubby, and my hubby and myself were at Wally World before 5am.
ReplyDeleteI was up that early only because I had to work that day, which for most of my life, I have worked black Fridays. I don't think I will ever do a black Friday. I don't have my shopping done either but we don't get much for our family anymore. As you said we are older. It's the time we celebrate the birth of Jesus and the time to celebrate and enjoy our families I find more important than getting a gift. Good blog love ya.... :)
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