Gift That Never Grows Old

I received a special gift a long time ago.  It was not the gift that I was hoping for. In fact I didn’t even know it was something that I wanted and needed until it was mine.  You see, Christmas to me back then  was letting mom and dad know what I wanted. It had nothing to do with not deserving or deserving anything.  After all, I thought I was pretty good for me. Well, most of the time.

I would sit there in front of the tv at 4 pm every week day and watch Santa Claus and his overgrown elf, Forgetful. It was a home grown program being beamed out to everyone around Buffalo that could get the signal. Of course, we had no idea in those days that the show had to be paid for by someone. And there it was after every show. A commercial for something I hounded my parents to get me.

Mom and Dad would come home and the first thing out of my mouth was, “I want . . . Many times it was the same thing. Other times it just happened to be something another sponsor was peddling. But I wanted it and now! A funny thing about this desire for this and that, it always seemed to change. One year it was a toboggan and another year it was a Mechano set,  or a riding tractor. Yes, it always seemed to be something. Just so you know, my brother was the same. I guess we were just normal kids looking for something from our parents or Santa. It’s not much different today. Kids still say to their parents and grandparents, “I want. . .” And we parents give because they love our children.

The special, best gift I ever received did not come in a box all wrapped with brightly coloured paper and beautiful ribbon. It didn’t come from a store down the street. It didn’t even come in the mail or delivered by Royal Post.  No tarnishing, no plastic to break or wires to fray. It was something better than anything I had ever seen or had in my whole life, not only up until then but even now these too many years later. This gift came to me to be mine forever.

It was also something that I learned could be shared and given away any time I wanted to. I could give it to anyone I wished and in doing so, I never lost it or misplaced it. It was always right there where I put it. The gift I received that wonderful night was God's gift to me. God gave His Son, Jesus Christ to me. God said He loved me and cared for me. Even more than my parents. He loved me unconditionally and like my parents, He continues to forgive me for the mistakes I make. He wraps His loving arms around me when I’m hurting or lonely or depressed or discouraged. He is there every minute of every day, taking care of me. And Jesus, the best gift of all, walks with me and I hold His nail scared hand in mine, or does the nail pierced hand hold mine? No matter how I look at God's gift, it makes me feel wonderful.

Have you received your gift yet?

I pray you do. Just ask.
Something to think about
Rob

Can't Remember?

It’s been decades since I lived at home. Too many to count, but at this time of year I can close my eyes and see my mom standing there, with her hands on her hips, saying; “There’s something missing.” It could have been while she was putting up the decorations that seemed to erupt from a half dozen old boxes in the far corner of the basement. Could have even come while she stood over the stove preparing this or that. Nutmeg, cinnamon?  It always seemed like she said it more often at Christmas after all the stores were closed on Christmas Eve. Luckily it never happened as we made sugar cookies in the shape of stars and bells and reindeers. After all, all we needed was flour, sugar, butter and a pinch of salt.

Come to think of it, this phenomenon must be a generational thing.  I recollect a time or two when I was standing there with my hands on my hips saying similar things like, “Something’s missing.” This forgetting stuff must be something we passed on to our kids. Just blame it on genetics. It happens when we think we have everything ready and then it hits us, a funny feeling in the back of our minds that tells us, we might have forgotten something. Don’t start talking about this being a seniors moment because whether we like it or not, it does not have an age requirement. It happens to everyone one of us no matter what age we are.

I can’t recall most of the things I have forgotten over my life. Mostly they were trivial things. Sometimes, not even worth remembering. Then there are . . . well, you know, wife’s birthday, anniversary. . . Here is something you might want to remember about forgetting. Do you remember what you forgot last week, or how about last year? No? Didn’t think so. Me neither. You might just remember that you forgot something. So here you have it, in almost all cases of forgetfulness, it’s not earth shattering or life changing. Unless you forgot to show up at your own wedding. But really, is it so terrible when you think you have forgotten the salt in the cookies and you add too much more...?

I don’t have to remind you this is Christmas, but here is something we used to say a lot in the last generation, “Don’t sweat the small stuff”. Don’t worry and fret about forgetting. In the long run, it won’t matter. Well, except for one most important thing. Never forget that God loves you. John said it best, “For God so loved the world that He sent His only son, that whoever believes in Him will not die but have everlasting life.” That my friend is Christmas and our Third Sunday of Advent being all about God’s Love. Do you love Him back? Just asking.

Something to think about

Rob

Peace In Our Christmas

 The race is on.  It was only a couple of days ago that the USA started the race to Christmas.  They call it, Black Friday.  Recognizing a ‘good thing’, Canada is now getting in the gameas well. We now have what we call, ‘Black Weekend’. If the tally tells the story, many people are joining in the race. It is a game isn’t it?

Years ago, too many to count, I remember the saying going around that we needed to 'get in the game'. Or in this case, get in the race.  This is the race to Christmas. Or is it? People rushing here and there, having to do this and that, as if motivated by unknown forces that never work this way any other time of the year.

I heard one commercial lately that sounds like something a guy came up with.  He extoled the virtues of coming to just one store. He said, “Come into our store, _____, and in less time than you can imagine, you can get all your shopping done and spend the rest of December enjoying the season”. Sounds like a plan to me.  There is only one catch. That store doesn’t have all the things that are on my list, and no, it was not Walmart.

Yes, the race to Christmas. Gifts and presents for each and everyone. Then on to wrapping and ribbon and labels that do not fall off. You can't forget the decorations up in the attic. You can then get into the kitchen and bake the cookies and Christmas cake. After which there is the, and, and, and, and of course, the tree. Can't forget the tree. All of this means a lot of trips to the shops to purchase all the items you can’t seem to find to finish the decorating, baking and. . . You can relate, I know you can.

My question is simple. Is this what getting ready for Christmas is all about? When I read all about Advent I read about quiet personal reflection, fasting and prayers. Does that sound like the race is on? It should be more about reflecting about being ready for Jesus to come. Come into our lives, into our Christmas and into our world.  After all I believe we are not in a race.  Yes, we are the human race but that has nothing to do with speed and traction as we rush from one store to the next on icy roads. This next Sunday at church is our Sunday wrapped in the concept of Peace. Peace in our world and especially peace in our lives.

My mother and I used to go out shopping on Christmas Eve Day. Took the bus downtown and just walked around picking up last minute things. No agenda, just a special time together. But more than this, there were two things we did on those days, First, we leisurely made the rounds of those long forgotten stores, Zellers, Kresges, The Right House, Eaton’s, Simpson’s, Robinson’s. Secondly, while we took our time as we watched people. I sometimes still do that. Just like those long ago days, I find myself remembering walking with mom and I smile as we did then at the last minute shoppers in too much of a hurry because they forgot to get a gift for Aunt Phyllis.  

This concept about Peace at Christmas came home to me when a non-Christmas verse came to mind this past Sunday afternoon. You see, we came home from church to just relax. No tv, no commercials, no phone ringing and definitely no trips to this store or that. Here are those precious word we find in Psalm 46:10.  “Be still and know that I am God.”  Yes, they are the words David wrote as he sat quietly in the presence of God.

How about you? Is this something you need as part of your December?

Something to think about.

Rob