It’s because everywhere, you see good cheers, as the season bring tidings of comfort and joy. Everyone seems decided to be happy, living, fulfilled, generous, peaceful, contented, joyful, festive and emotionally connected to the important people in their lives for the holidays this year.
There’s the card writing, mailing, gift buying, wrapping, sending, tree buying, trimming, cooking, party giving with women and all these “to do’s”—performing miracles on demand, making holidays come true behind the scenes. The celebration of Christmas is a whirl of festivities, decorations, parties and family that are centered on traditions.
And look at the list of lavish gifts. You see, Christmas is all about gifts, nothing but gifts. These gifts are tied with heart strings that surprise and delight. They transform the mundane into almost celestial, nourishing the souls of both the giver and the given—perfect, authentic gifts of the Spirit, written a long time ago and read by all.
As we get caught up in the chaos and commotion of the holidays, we ruminate on the actual role of gifts on every Christmas story that we’ve read somehow. The first gift was of Spirit: unconditional love. The next gift came from a teenage girl named Miriam, known to her friends and family as Mary, her Christmas present was said to be selflessness—the complete surrender of pride and will needed to bring Heaven down to earth. The gift of her fiancé, Joseph was trust and faith. He trusted that Mary wasn’t pregnant with another man’s child: he believed there really was a Divine Plan to get through the mess. The Child brought forgiveness, wholeness. The Angels’ gift were said to be tidings of comfort, joy and peace, the reassurance that there was nothing to fear, so rejoice!
There’s the shepherd boys’ gift of generosity: His favorite lamb for the baby’s birthday present. The in-keeper’s wife offered compassion and charity—a warm, safe place for the homeless family to stay, her best coverlet to wrap the new mother and little one, a meal for Joseph, and fresh hay for the donkey. The story tells more: of the three kings that travelled through hot, dusty miles following a bright star in search of a royal birth, as foretold by sages divination of the coming of the “King of Kings.” On their camels’ backs were treasures with which to honor His arrival. Yet as they arrived in Bethlehem, they found the new born prince in a cow stall instead of a palace. The shocked Wise Men unwrapped gold, frankincense and myrrh, but their real gifts would be described as wonder, acceptance and courage.
Their gift is of wonder, by surrendering logic, reason and common sense. Accepting the impossible, they suspended skepticism long enough to double cross the insane King Herod, frantically searching for a child who would change the world. With courage (the book continues) at the risk of their own lives, the Three Wise Men helped the young family escape to a safe haven in Egypt.
There it is. To give such gifts is to truly open our hearts to receive such gifts gratefully.
Unconditional Love, Selfishness, Trust, Faith, Forgiveness, Wholeness, of Second Chances, comfort, Peace, Rejoices Generosity and Compassion…Charity Wonder, Acceptance, Courage: Christmas just won’t be Christmas without any presents.
We’ve been taught that giving presents is a talent—to know what a person wants, to know when and how to get it, to give it lovingly and well. We’ve accepted that gifts are the center of Christmas, which will arrive on December 25 whether we are ready for it, or not. Making gifts can be fun especially when we’ve got the time and creative energy to do it properly. Otherwise, we’re back to an old sentiment: how did Christmas slip out of our grasp, unable to give one’s gift to those one loved most.
Wasn’t one of the reasons past Christmas probably did not measure up to our expectations was because we’ve tried to do too much, too perfectly. We did not choose to let only what we loved best about the holiday season and forget about the simple joys like delight in the sounds of the bells and joyful music, reading a holiday story at dusk or re creating cherished Christmas that care for your soul as well as the as the souls of those we love. Have you ever thought of doing something that could undermine domestic tranquility without threatening the common good? A little naughty adventure perhaps?
In the home front, it was also a season of angst, tears and tantrums, screaming and yelling, hustle and bustle, cast conflicts, and oh yes, the royal pain relations that send you frazzled, frustrated, frantic. What ever happened to the tidings of comfort and joy heralded by Christmas if you choose to be a wreck?
You cannot do everything, not all at once, not in the next sixteen days, not at all. Period. Women will soon be dropping in their tracts. Christmas wish? What will it be? Is it too late to choose strength, grace and wisdom?
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E-mail Mylah at [email protected]
