Why We Give Gifts at Christmas

I love watching my kids light up as they open their gifts on Christmas Eve!  What’s even better is watching them beam with joy as they give the little gifts they purchased for each other from the Dollar Store.  They give so thoughtfully!

Before we give our gifts though, we open the first gift of Christmas.  After we come home from church we gather everyone around our Nativity Scene.  Then we open a little gift box that contains the baby Jesus figurine which we place into the Nativity Scene.  Then we have the older boys read from Luke chapter 2 the account of the birth of Jesus.  It’s such a simple yet wonderful way to remember why we give gifts at Christmas.  

It’s easy to forget.  I must confess, sometimes, I fall into the stress of this time of the year.  Get a gift for this person.  Try to get a list from that person.  Fit in time to get to a store.  Wade through crowds.  Spend too much money.  It gets pretty crazy at times.

I don’t think that’s quite what God had in mind when He sent the first and greatest gift of Christmas, His Son, Jesus Christ.  This is what God had in mind, “But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons” (Galatians 4:4-5).  God the Father had in mind to give up His Son to make us His.  From cradle to cross, Jesus had in mind to give us peace, love and forgiveness.  Can you think of a better gift?

I’d love to hear from you how you keep your family centered on the greatest gift of Christmas.  What’s your family tradition?  No matter what your family tradition is this Christmas, my prayer for you is that you remember why you give gifts.  It’s all because God gave us His greatest gift.  He gave us Jesus.  He gave us love.  He gave us peace.  Take time to enjoy it not just at Christmas time, but all year long.  The gift of Jesus never gets old.    Merry Christmas from my family to yours!

-Chris Johnson, Outreach and Young Adult Pastor