Christmas is a wonderful time to reflect on all that is good in the world. It’s a special time to celebrate God’s greatest gift to mankind; peace with God through His Son, Jesus Christ. I am beyond words grateful for this incredible greatest gift in my life. C. S. Lewis said, "I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen, not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.” God’s gift at Christmas gives us the opportunity to see the many blessings that flow from that greatest gift. As I consider the many blessings God has showered on me since receiving His greatest gift, I’ve come to appreciate God’s second greatest gift.
The heart behind the second greatest gift goes all the way back to the Garden of Eden. After creating Adam God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone.” God knew that mankind would hunger for relationships, so He graciously gave us the second gift. He gave us the gift of loving one another. Through His divine wisdom and providence, God places people in our lives to satisfy our yearning for connection and relationship. How easy it is to take this marvelous gift for granted.
This Christmas, I challenge each of us to consider the people God places in our lives. Then imagine them as an amazing gift from Him. Yes, even the one’s we determine are difficult. God puts these precious gifts in our lives because it's not good for us to be alone. But there's so much more. By embracing His amazing gift of connectivity and relationship, we open our hearts to the tremendous joy of receiving and giving love. Especially if we're willing to admit that we don’t always know what love looks like. The gifts of family, friends, even acquaintances can be life giving, life changing, and life fulfilling. In their own unique way, God uses each person and each unique gift to help shape us into the person He created us to be. I’m learning to be more grateful for the people God places in my life, and to intentionally consider how I can be that gift to them. I might not always hit the mark, but I'm resolved to keep making the effort to receive these precious gifts, and to be that unique gift to others.
Merry Christmas!
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