The Greatest Gift

On Tuesday night, we had a family tradition of getting together with a few friends for dinner and of course, opening presents. The last few years our kids have had the fun of going to a “Secret Santa Shop” at their school where they can buy small, inexpensive items for anybody that they want to put on their list. This year, however, there was no Secret Santa Shop, so Susan took them to the Dollar General and allowed them to buy their gifts there. They had so much fun picking out things for their grandparents, aunts, uncles, and friends.
On Tuesday night, they were excited to give some of their gifts away. When Chuck and Karen Waldrop (who are like my kid’s third set of grandparents) walked in the door, John Mark immediately screamed, “Hey Chuck, I got you a HAMMER! Hey Chuck, I got you a HAMMER!” It was priceless. It didn’t matter that we still had folks to arrive and we were going to eat dinner before we did the presents, every time John Mark saw Chuck, he told him that he had bought him a hammer! I guess he told him fifteen times, so it was no big surprise when Chuck later opened up his hammer from John Mark! It was hard for John Mark to keep such a GREAT GIFT to himself! He had to tell!
I imagine it is the same way with God. From the moment we are born, I imagine that God is screaming with excitement, “HEY, I’VE GOT YOU A SAVIOR! HEY, I’VE GOT YOU A SAVIOR!” The problem is, He wants to shout that great news through you and me. He wants us to tell the Good News that Jesus Christ was born, that He died, and that He rose again and He wants to be Savior and Lord of their lives. How is that we keep such a GREAT GIFT to ourselves?
John Mark shouted about a simple hammer. How are you doing at telling people about the GREATEST GIFT ever given? His name is JESUS and He is what today is all about. The Christmas carol says it well, “Go tell it on the mountain, over the fields, and everywhere.”
Susan and I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and hope that your day is filled with the holiness and joy that only Christ can bring. We love you all.