When I was young, every Christmas Day my family and I would go to my Grandparents house to meet up with all the other grandchildren, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc., to eat, make merry, and exchange gifts. We always ended up getting a gift we really, really wanted. It took time, effort, care, phone calls between parents, saving money, and work to coordinate all those exciting gifts. Now that I’m a parent and grandparent I reflect on these facts and am overcome with sincere thankfulness at the genuine love and care that went into this gift exchange. It wasn’t quick, easy, or flippantly done. There was great orchestration involved. What a blessing too many have never experienced.
No matter what kind of childhood Christmas you had, good or bad, just know that none of us really ever received the best gift in the world for the best one was born among the animals and laid in the hay. God’s greatest gift to humanity doesn’t come wrapped in a glittering gift bag with a big fluffy bow. Possessions will never fulfill. The Greatest Gift Exchange was when Jesus exchanged His life in heaven for mine when He came down to earth, died, rose again, ascended back to heaven, and it was done out of love, care, and Divine orchestration. “For unto us a Child is born….”
“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.” John 3:16-17