They have
all the money they need to buy whatever whenever. So what do you give them at
Christmas? Those other people aren’t family or much more than acquaintances. Do
you ignore them at Christmas, or do you try to come up with something cheap
that will say they weren’t forgotten, just not valued very highly? Finally what
do you give those old folks who don’t want anything for Christmas? They want
your presence, not your presents, but you cannot be there on Christmas Day
because of all the other things going on.
In my last
blog I listed a few items I felt God wanted from me at Christmas and all year
long. Perhaps those divine desires are the answer for what we should give these
people, at Christmas and all year. There are gifts that are expensive but cost
no money. There are gifts never appearing in a commercial that say to a person
you are special, and you are worth my inconvenience to let you know how
important you are to me. Emphasizing those kinds of gifts takes a major mind-shift
for all of us.
God gave his
Son, Jesus, the greatest gift of all. Through him we have hope and strength to
face this life and the gift of eternal life (Romans 6:23) freed from the evil
of this world. The Apostle Peter describes the coming of the Holy Spirit as a
divine gift. (Acts 2:38) Even our ability to serve God in this world in the
power of the Holy Spirit is called a gift of God. (Romans 12; I Corinthians 12;
I Peter 4)
With these
as our examples God calls us to consider what are the best kind of gifts we can
give those people around us. We think of expressions of love for those closest
to us, family members, the best neighbors, and those who have the closest
relationship to us in the family of faith. God would not have us forget the
others that touch our lives. What shall we do for them?
How should I
gift these people who are in my circle of acquaintances? The public servant,
the representative in the medical field, the military personnel and the families
supporting them, the family in the shelter, the individual in the prison, and
the person we pass on the street could all use a gift this Christmas and a note
saying they are remembered all year long. (Matthew 25) Our first concern is
generally what can we buy for so many.
Consider
this list of gifts whose costs are not necessarily measured in money:
·
Patience and
a smile for the harried clerk
·
An
encouraging and appreciative word for the tired postal worker
·
A quick
forgiveness for the rude shopper
·
A quick
apology even if you’re not the one at fault
·
A second
chance for the repentant
·
Politeness
in driving style
·
A
handwritten note of appreciation handed to someone in passing
·
A few
moments spent with a person facing loneliness
·
Donated
hours of babysitting for a family
·
A plate of
brownies and cookies for a public servant
·
A meal of
soup and sandwiches shared with someone who might eat alone
·
A prayer of
blessing for all people you meet today
There is one
statement Jesus gave us that sums up the philosophy and the methodology behind
this type of gifting. “Do to others what you would want them to do to you.”
(Matthew 7:12) Sure, those big gift cards and packages that weigh 300 pounds
are fabulous, but they can never replace drinking coffee at the shop with
someone who is special to you. There is a lot of “stuff” you would trade for
someone giving you another chance to make up for that big mistake. A good
night’s sleep after a relationship has been mended is beyond the value of a
stack of packages.
During these
last days of Christmas shopping, don’t forget the gifts people need both during
this season and year round. They are life transforming. They are the same gifts
you need from them.
