This Christmas season has been one of the best Christmas’ I’ve had in a while. I can’t remember exactly what age I was when Christmas started to lose its magic impact on me, but I know for the past two years, I was more of a grinch. I just wanted the holidays to be over. I didn’t want to see my family. I was miserable. A recipe for Christmas despair. This year was different though for two reasons.
The first reason this year was different was how much Jesus has changed my life. Sounds cliche, but I can’t take credit for what He has done for me. He took me back when I had run away from Him, gave me a place to belong in His kingdom, He gave me purpose through service and giving, and made me grateful instead of anxious. God never abandoned me. Behind the scenes, He was working. It was this year that He revealed Himself to me in a way that I could fully accept the gift of who Jesus is. The God of the universe, who made all things, holds all power on heaven and on earth, became one of us just so He could have a relationship with us. And to make his coming more personal, He didn’t come to earth as a king the way we think of kings; he came to earth to a poor family and was born where the cattle sleep and eat. The sweet gift of Jesus is more precious to me than ever before.
The second reason this year was different was I had found gifts for my family members and friends. I have not been a very good gift giver in the past and often times did not buy gifts at all. Part of it had to do with me being a Scrooge. The second part is that I don’t like to buy gifts just to buy gifts. I like the feeling of buying a meaningful gift that you know the person will really enjoy or use. This year, I felt the hype of anticipation for everyone else to open my gifts to them. My best friend Taylor is an artist, so I got to use her talent as a gift twice. I made my mom open her gift first because I was really excited for her to have it. She is the cutest happy crier. That is the only time I enjoy making her cry. I’m still waiting in anticipation for my best friend to get her Christmas gifts. There is just something so exciting about getting people the right gift. The joy of giving is so real for me.
I was overwhelming blessed this Christmas season. I hope you had a wonderful holiday and have a wonderful rest of the season.
I’m really thankful that next year is going to be odd because I can’t even.
Blessings to you all and I’ll write a new post in the new year!
