Searching For the First Christmas Gift

I think every year we have to search for a renewal of the special spirit that we experienced as children. Not just magic of jolly St. Nick, but the quiet rest for the soul that only comes from reading, pondering, studying and reflecting of what God's gift to us, really encompasses. Maybe that is why I have been blessed with this pesky virus that seems determined to hang on. (I will chuckle if I miraculously on the 26th ! My usual luck, well not really, the aftermath of this sort of illness is usually around for weeks, if not months to come. Anyway, I have to pace myself, or I will be coughing, hard, for months to come, no time for that.)

Back to what I was getting at. I was reading "The Christmas Box". I have always loved that book. I used to read it every year. This year, I finally did again, thanks to the time of rest forced upon me. In it the husband/father finally figures out that the first Christmas gift was not gold, frankincense or myrrh. The first Christmas gift was love. Of course, we all know that God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16

This year when I read that phrase, it hit me pretty hard, that He showed His love for all of us, in many ways, long before He sent the Savior to teach, live and atone for our sins. It began beyond our memories, but it is

so evident every day, all around us. In so many small ways that we often attribute to coincidence or good luck.

I heard that there was a huge pile up on the freeway south of Phoenix. I finally couldn't stand it and called to see if Jon was in his office yet. He was stuck on the freeway behind the pile up. He had stopped and gotten gas or he would have been in the wrong place at the wrong time. He was also able to turn around and get to his destination by a little known route to avoid impatient drivers being diverted after being waylaid.

Those who know me at all, know how I agonize at his driving so much. This why, other drivers who whether from fatigue, DUI, or lack of experience in bad weather conditions, have accidents. We had something similar happen a few years ago when we broke down in a little town in the middle of Texas. Two days later, after we were on the road, we found out that a bridge washed out on the back road Jon had wanted to take, once again, just about the time we would have been going through that area, in the dark, rainy night. Coincidence, I don't think so, the tender mercies of a loving Heavenly Father who knew that we needed to be protected.

So I wish all I know and love and even those who peek at this that I don't know, a wonderfully Merry Christmas, enjoying the good company of those you enjoy being with. A Christmas feeling close to our Savior and Heavenly Father. A Christmas of feeling the spirit of the true meaning of this season. I hope that the economy will not mar or block our feelings gratitude as we reflect on the blessings in our lives. Even in these lean times, we are truly blessed.

May you experience the Christmas that we all felt as children while gazing at the stable and dreaming that we back there with Baby Jesus.