Rev. Jackson B. Powers
Dec. 18th, 2022

When I was younger, all I could think about this time of year was the shiny, neatly wrapped presents under the tree. My siblings and I would always count the presents like it was some kind of game to see who got more. Now, our parents would remind us that it was not the amount of presents, but the value of them that mattered. One of us might get 20 presents, but they would be cheap. Another might get only two or three, but they were two or three REALLY GOOD PRESENTS. No matter what, however, all of the kinds would get the same amount of money spent of them.

As an adult, I see it now. I understand that one child was not loved more than the others. Adulthood and Fatherhood has really helped me see and understand that my parents love each of us the same, but in different ways. I would have laughed and gotten angry if my parents got me a Barbie for Christmas.

First of all,  Christmas  is a time to focus on the birth of our Messiah.  The fulfillment of prophecies laid in a manger, not a castle, hotel, or even a home.
Secondly, gifts are nice but let us not forget WHY we give them. We give and recieve gifts to remind ourselves of the GIFT of CHRIST that laid in a lowly manger destined to die.
Jesus came the way he did for all if us. And He died for all of us also. However, I believe that If He were to give us all the same "presents" (that being our daily experiences), we would not be the people God CREATED us to be.

So as Christmas approaches, I pray that you think not of WHAT presents you give or receive, but rather WHY. I pray that you you are reminded of the Gift of Christ, wrapped up in the fulfillment of prophecies, destined to die and raise on the third day, so that WE may live eternally with HIM.