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Cal's Pastoral Epistles
The Precious Gifts Of Christmas
December 21, 2005
If I asked you to share your favorite Christmas moments, I am sure
that most of you would not talk about the fanciest present you ever
received. You would tell me about that special moment when two
hearts clicked or an unexpected arrival of a loved one on Christmas
Eve. You see, despite all the hoopla about giving and receiving
presents, worrying about whether or not your gift is going to be
appreciated, deep down inside all of us know that Christmas is really
about relationships.
This year I took my own advice and spent time thinking about and
praying for people on my Christmas card list. It was great. Unlike
other years when I rushed through it as another task to be done and
checked off my list, addressing the cards became an act of love. It
stirred up memories of time spent with family and friends over the
years. Like George Bailey in "It's A Wonderful Life," I had the
opportunity to reflect upon the way my life was blessed by those all
around me as I took a trip down memory lane. Now no matter what I
find under the Christmas tree this year, I have already received one
of the most precious gifts. You see Christmas is about relationships.
My best Christmas present came in the winter of 1968. Earlier that
summer my father and mother split up. It was a traumatic time and
our family was literally torn in two by the divorce. My younger
brother went to live with my mom and I stayed with my dad. As fall
turned to winter, my heart ached for the family to be together. Every
night I prayed that we could be reunited. My father told me that it
was not possible. Nonetheless, I have always been a dreamer and I
persisted in my prayers. Then a few days before Christmas my mom
stopped by the house to drop off my Christmas presents. I pleaded
with her to let my brother stay with us over the holidays. After a lot
of tears she relented and she let Bryan stay. I have to tell you that I
don't remember one toy I got that year, but the memory of my
brother and I being reunited is my most precious Christmas memory
of all. You see Christmas is about relationships.
When you really think about how Christmas began, it shouldn't
come as a surprise that the best gifts we have received over the
years are the interpersonal ones. After all, this celebration began
when God opened the gates of heaven and shared himself with us in
the Christ child. One of the most quoted verses of scripture is from
John 3:16. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only
begotten son." Every year at this time we celebrate the fact that
God loves us so much that he gave the most precious thing he had.
He gave himself.
I hope you will think about that as you gather with family and
friends at worship, around the table, and in your living rooms this
Christmas. Look around you at the people that God has brought into
your life and take a mental snapshot of the gift you have been given
this Christmas. For this is what Christmas is all about. It is about
our relationship to God and to one another. Enjoy these precious
gifts because they will keep coming back to bless you time and again.
Long after the CD player is broken and the computer is obsolete,
you will still have the memories of those who blessed you this year.
So Merry Christmas. I hope you enjoy your presents!
God bless you! See you in Church. Cal
Pastor Cal Lord writes these weekly epistles to
help us see God in every day things.
help us see God in every day things.
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