Dear Christmas is coming,

So for this post we are going to take a break from relationships and boy talk. Instead, I want to focus on the Christmas spirit that we are all feeling at the beginning of December.

I don’t know about you but if I don’t have most of my Christmas shopping finished by December then there is a big chance that it won’t get finished by the 25th. What? So, I live in Bemidji, MN, about 2 hours from Canada, and during the holiday season all the online orders are held up because of the sheer numbers moving through the post office and other distributing companies. I truly feel bad for anyone that works for the Post Office, Amazon, FedEx, or UPS during the Christmas season because if everyone orders as much as I do, then they will have a huge amount of packages to deal with. So, I always try to have everything ordered before December or at least on their way during the first could weeks into the month.

I love this season of Christmas because we are reminded of family and the joys of giving to others. I mean it is fun getting gifts as well, but there is absolutely nothing like watching someone open up the gift you carefully selected for them. It took your time and brain power to select that perfect gift and watching them rip that paper away from the box containing that prize makes your insides explode in anticipation of their reaction. Then as their face lights up, you know that you did good, another successful Christmas.

But what if I told you that the gifts are only a small part of Christmas. No, I am not talking about the skiing, snowmobiling, or sledding that is indeed so much fun. I’m not even referring to the family dinner that is always so amazing and usually over-filling. What I am talking about, is the story that so many have forgotten and may have even replaced with Santa Claus.

I’m thinking about the story of the baby in the manger, in Luke 2. The baby, Jesus, came to earth as a gift to the world. He was the son of God that was sacrificed so that we could one day spend eternity with  God in Heaven. That is the gift that we should remember the most on Christmas. Ok, now I am not saying you can’t enjoy your gifts, Christmas dinner, or even playing outside. I just want to remind you that Christmas was designed to remember the most important gift, Jesus. So, when you give that gift to your friend, spouse, or kids remember you already have the most important gift. And that He is the most important gift you can share with others during this Christmas season.

We shouldn’t give hundreds of physical gifts away without also considering to give out this spiritual gift as well. Jesus is the only gift that will change someone’s life forever. Remember that the next time you put something in your Amazon cart or push the Order button. The cool thing is that the gift of sharing Jesus with others is totally free. The most important gift doesn’t cost you anything, because Jesus already paid for it. How amazing is that? So, give it to others this Christmas.

Merry Christmas everyone.

                                                                                 Signing off,
                                                                                 Tami