The Greatest Gifts

Another Christmas has come and gone.  It’s kind of like breakfast, in a way.  There’s a lot of preparation involved, and then it’s over in an instant and we’re on with our lives.  This Christmas was so special to me, and that’s because of all the great gifts.  I had stockings full of candy and other knick knacks (including instant snow!).  There were gift cards, CDs, DVDs, clothes, and other keepsakes that let me know I was thought of.  I got cards from my parents and a very heartfelt note inside my mom’s.  I even got a Dundie Award from fellow fans of The Office, the Crossans!  As far as physical, material items, you can definitely say I racked up.

If you really want to talk about what made this a special Christmas, it had little to do with what I got to unwrap.

- The whole weekend was spent with friends and family.
- My mother and father both showed me how much they thought about me.
- A year of family and close friends being there for one another culminated with us enjoying each other’s fellowship on Christmas Day.
- I once again got to experience the joy of giving and seeing others be blessed.
- I got to experience God’s blessings as He worked through others to provide for me.
- The day after Christmas, we spent time with my 88-year-old great aunt, whom I love dearly.
- I watched my mom continue to be blessed abundantly in ways that are nothing short of God working in people’s hearts.
- I spent the evening of the 23rd worshiping and celebrating the birth of Jesus at my church, as well as the evening of Christmas doing the same thing at my mom’s church.
- After weeks of loss and sadness in the lives of those around me, December 25th finally came, and there was nothing stopping the joy.
- My mother was here with us this Christmas, and she’s still cancer-free!
- I was given a new appreciation of celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.

There truly is no one like our God.  He’s done so much for me that it’s hard to count all the ways and not leave something out.  God is amazing, and He is always on-time.

I loved spending time with so many friends and family this past weekend and over the past few weeks.  I can’t think of a better way to honor Jesus on Christmas than to worship His name and be in the company of those He has placed in my life–giving and showing my appreciation for them, and showing my love with my actions.

All of these things have been my greatest gifts.

I hope you had a blessed Christmas as well.