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| “What’s the best gift we can give our kids this year?” |
“I’m Just Sayin
by Alan P. Scaglione
Whether it’s the 8 days of Hanukkah, the 12 days of Christmas or…Christmas morning!
We love to see the look on their face when they open that present…you bought especially for them!
Watching your kids open their presents Christmas morning, after a month of anticipation and a night of no sleep-
While they wait anxiously for Christmas to come.
And then… it happens! The presentation of gifts.
This age old custom was started when the Three Wise Men came to see the Savior…and brought gold, frankincense and myrrh!
We’ve come along way from exchanging spices to today’s presents.
But in the spirit of Three Wise Men, it’s all about celebrating…the gift of the Magi!
We exchange gifts to celebrate the greatest gift given to man…a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
But thank God…He didn’t stay in that manger…if fact, when the Three Wise Men met Jesus, he was in a house.
Follow the gift God gave…
From the manger to the house to the temple, to the streets, to the courts, to the cross…to the tomb…and to the Right Hand of the Father!
All of it because…God gave His gift of forgiveness…to see how elated we would be…to receive the gift of grace…unmerited favor!
We cannot earn what God gave, but we can all receive it into our hearts… and then, the real celebration begins!
Years ago, I wrote a song called “The Gift”…here is the chorus:
The gift He gave
The gift He brought
From His Father
Looking down on each of us
His gift was wrapped
In swaddling clothes
To someday hang on top a tree
He was born to die
To give the gift of life
So willingly….
He gave His gift
To you and me.
The words…He was born to die, to give the gift of life…so willingly…
That’s the gift He gave….what will you give?
I had a “text talk” with my daughter Amanda today. You have to know, she will text you for 30 minutes, over 30 texts, and never pick up the phone.
She is very busy as a kindergarten teacher, a loving wife, an attentive mother…but she still makes time for her Papa…and I appreciate the time spent.
We were “talking” about giving the greatest gift at Christmas.
She said we should give the gift of forgiveness—it’s the only gift that benefits you more in giving than receiving, and it mirrors the gift God gave!
We talked about why forgiveness seems to be easier to give to friends than family.
She said it was because we expect more from family than they are capable of providing…we should cut each other a break.
I asked her just how many times can we continue to forgive our family?
My daughter texted back ”I think He said…70 times 7!”
I kind of chuckled…guess this teacher was now her student.
She’s right…we need to cut each other a break…stop expecting more from family than they are capable of providing.
And the Word reminds us in Matthew 18:21-35
“Why should your Father forgive - if you don’t forgive?”
Would we want His gift withheld from us because we withhold from others?
If God can give His gift--you remember…
“He was born to die, to give the gift of life…so willingly…”
How can we hold onto grudges, withhold forgiveness, refuse to offer the gift that gives as good as it gets?
Wouldn’t your family trade in all the presents under their tree…
For your presence around their tree?
Even as the Wise Men entered the house, with gifts for the Messiah…
Be wise-- when you enter your house--give the gift that He gave first..
Forgiveness is a gift best shared with Family!
Until Next TimeI’m Just Sayin’…
Brother “A”
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