The Heart of Christmas

It's finally here, the Christmas season! I can't imagine not loving this time of year but there are people who dread it... They remember hurt, lost loved ones, they don't have enough money to get the presents their children want or even the food they need... My family was once one of those families, I remember how excited I would be to get a "Christmas box" from the food bank... Once I remember getting gifts from somewhere and I'm not even sure of one thing that was in that box but I am sure I could feel the love each present was given with. Someone may be having a microwave dinner instead of the big family turkey and stuffing sinner we all take for granted, some one's child is sick and there's nothing that mother or father can do to make them feel any better at all... But, you can change Christmas for someone.  I know we don't all have enough money to take pain away, buy presents for other people's families, and none of us have the power to heal a sick child so what can we do? 

I think changing Christmas for others starts with changing it for ourselves. Remembering what the first Christmas was about... A baby in a manger, yes but more than that, the God who wrapped all his fullness of power in that little swaddled package... A God who left the beauty and splendor of heaven for a winters night in a stable and a lifetime of sorrow... A lifetime know each step would lead him closer to a rugged cross of pain. God gave us the best gift available and it didn't dip into His finances at all but it took His whole heart.

Our hearts are something we can all choose to give to others. Maybe you don't have money at all but you have a smile and a kind word. If you know someone will be alone you can invite them to spend time with you. If a child is sick you can introduce their family to the healer of all disease. You can share your turkey dinner with someone. You can give presents to a family in need instead of over gifting toys that will be forgotten tomorrow to your own family. I'm not saying give your Christmas away; I'm saying give the heart of Christmas away... If Jesus lives in your heart, each time you give a piece of your love away you are imparting His heart to others and that's what Christmas is all about anyway! Christmas is about the heart and love of God, the majesty of the manger, the love of the Cross, share the heart of Christmas and you share the heart of Christ.