Folks often express a moment of profound change in how they experience the Christmas holiday. When we were kids, there was a great focus and anticipation in what toys we were going to get. Every generation of kids has their own crown jewels of toys that reached legendary status. Whether your era was G.I. Joe and Barbie, Hot Wheels and Etch-a-Sketch or Cabbage Patch Kids and the Nintendo Entertainment System, that’s what the secular side of Christmas was all about.
Just for fun. Take a moment and remember some of your favorite childhood toys.
Bet you had a big grin on your face.
But then something happened. Something pivoted in our lives and changed the way we approach the holiday. All of the sudden the smiles on our faces didn’t have so much to do with the presents that we unwrapped – it became much more about the smiles on the faces of the kids. Picture the kids among your family and friends when they unwrap their presents. We connect our joy with bringing joy to others.
It’s a beautiful moment and it offers us a glimpse of the joy God must experience in giving us good things.
Think back on a time when you were able to bring great joy to someone else. Pause and take some time to thank God for that experience.
What is the giftedness that God has given you? We assume that when a gift is given that it is unwrapped and used, but that may not always be the case. God may have given you something that you really haven’t explored in a meaningful way. There may be many hidden gifts that God has given us that could truly be a blessing for the most vulnerable – particularly the young.
Let’s consider two:
Do you have compassion born from suffering? There are some experiences in life that can only be understood by those who have lived through them. Is that a gift you have to give?
Do you have the ability to see the potential in others? Through wisdom, experience, and God-given ability, some of us are able to see the beauty and potential in others far before they could recognize it in themselves. A person with this gift could coach others, encourage them, and help keep them from quitting on themselves. Is this a gift you have to give?
Pause now, and praise God for the ability to protect the vulnerable.