The Gift

As we put Thanksgiving 2012 in the books and look forward to Christmas,  I am reflecting upon the week our family spent together with everyone home from college and work.  At the beginning of each day we huddled together and exchanged our ideas for what needed to get done.  When we finished with our needs, we peppered it with our wants.  Everyone exchanged their vision of what they wanted to accomplish and what they wanted to do to spend time together. I am amazed at how many things we crammed into the week and am also grateful at how much everyone wanted to savor the moments together.

One conversation that stands out most last week is the topic of making "lists." It is central to the season and should be the axis of our lives.  The girls gathered together and were all discussing what they wanted to do with the few precious hours left before Melanie had to catch her flight back to Texas.    With only a few hours left to share, they decided to head up to the mall because it was close and Riley commented that she needed to get some ideas. I immediately felt my heart swell as I assumed that she wanted to  browse the stores for gift ideas that she would give to others during the holiday season.  My ingrained response is the mother's reflex to think the best in each of her children.  Then, I thought to quickly ask..."Ideas for what?'

She automatically responded, "I need to get ideas of what I want for Christmas.  Everyone keeps asking me what I want.  I need ideas."  The girls all chimed in, "me too, me too!"  I agreed.  We definitely need to shop for ideas.  Only we won't ever find what we need at the mall.  It occurred to me our focus needed to be on making lists this season and these lists need to focus on the giving- not the wanting.

My eyes immediately widened and my face gave a very telling look.  I am horrible at hiding what is in my heart.  It seems to come right out of my face, which isn't always a good thing.  I was hit with the reality that I had many hours left to tend in my family garden, plucking out some weeds that were getting a little unruly.  The last time I checked the garden, I was yielding some pretty tasty fruit.  But I guess that's what happens when you turn your back for a second.  Those weeds are hearty.  The roots are deep and they grow back so quickly.

Despite the annoyance, I am back to picking weeds before this Christmas season.  This Christmas we are all going to make lists.  Only, I don't want to see lists of "wants." The season is about Christ's gift to the world.  His gift involved the sacrifice of His whole life- in body, mind and spirit.  We are to emulate his gift by giving to others with our words, deeds, and spirit to the extent each of us are able.  I want to see "giving" lists this Christmas.  What would you each like to give this season?  Where can your gifts be utilized as an offering to someone else.  I want you to spend more time thinking about what you can give, even if it is only with your words.  This is the meaning of Christmas and should remain throughout the seasons of life.  When we leave this world and meet God face to face, the only gift we have to give is the gift of our own lives.  It should be wrapped in love for Him and others.  I want you all to be proud of the gift you have to offer .  You may be disappointed when you realize you could have given God so much more in return for the gifts you received.  Your words, deeds and relationships in love are the only things that matter.  They are the only things you can take with you to eternity.

You are all familiar with my book of "specials" that I keep tucked into my Holy Bible.  They are the precious gifts of love you have all given me through the years.  The mothers day cards, pictures, drawings and expressions of love from when you were all very little and could barely write.  The earliest attempts at expressing your love captures my heart the most.  I am often overwhelmed when I reread your hysterical poems in your precious handwriting.  I often think this is how God looks at each of us as we attempt to give Him gifts to show our love and thanksgiving.  He prizes the purity in our heart and the way we each express our love for the stage we are in.

Remember the year dad's birthday rolled around, and all of the little ones ran around the house looking for something to wrap up?  As you reached into the cabinets and toy boxes to find gifts to give, the funniest gift was the orange Sheila grabbed out of the fruit bowl.   She used pretty wrapping paper and gobs of tape to wrap the odd shaped edible.  The wrapping job itself gave dad and I so much joy.  Every year, dad still gets a wrapped orange for his birthday as a joke.  It reminds us of the precious way we are to give gifts.

So, as your are making lists, concentrate on the list of gifts you already have and focus on where and to whom you can give them.  The simplest and most unexpected acts of kindness bring each other the most joy.  Always be looking for opportunities to use your gifts to give to others, especially as we celebrate this Christmas season.  Do not think they are too small or insignificant to give.  Remember the gift of baby Jesus.  He was small, just like us.  His life was God's greatest gift to us.

Be thinking.  I will be asking for all of your lists very soon.  I am anxious to see what each of you put on your "giving" lists this year.  I am confident you all will have some great ideas that aren't found in the mall.  I can't wait to see what gifts you all put under the tree wrapped in love this Christmas.  How can you use your lives to give your own, unique gift back to God -each according to your abilities? I hope you can spend some time thinking about this during Advent season.

Love
MOM