I love Christmas; I always have. Of course you must understand that Christmas is truly one of the most wonderful and most magical times of the year – a time when you get to receive and a time in which to give. It is a time of the year that the “best” in mankind comes out (for the most part). I am blessed to have so many great Christmas memories. Memories that range from my own childhood (the infamous Planet of the Apes Christmas [ask me about it sometime]), the disastrous ”brass duck” Christmas (again, ask me for the details), joyous memories of Christmas’ with toddlers (Dakota & Duncan), not so joyous Christmas’ of unemployment and penny scraping just to get a few stocking stuffers, and this Christmas which is being marked by way-too-expensive toys (phones, Ipods, Xboxes, etc., of course the toys are much more fun for Debbie and me).
Last night, I took Duncan to get his Christmas gift – an Xbox 360 (I know some of you are laughing at how behind the times I truly am; I didn’t tell you that the new system is replacing his N64 – now you are really laughing). After dinner last night we sat down on the living room floor to set it up. Finally, about an hour later we were playing games and testing the system out. Eventually, we powered the console down and Duncan got ready for bed. In the midst of his excitement he ran up, threw his arms around my neck, gave me a great big hug, and said, “Thank you, I LOVE you!”
As I sat there basking in the glow of being such a good father I was struck with a moment of personal pondering. How many times, I wondered, have I ran up to my heavenly Father and with great excitement for the gifts He has bestowed upon me shouted with joy from my heart, “Thank You! I Love You!” To be honest with you, part of me cringes to think of exhibiting my love for another simply based upon what he/she may or may not have gifted me with; but, another part of me gets it.
We often talk about having a “child-like” faith, but is that really what Jesus said? Take note of what our Lord and Savior said in Matthew 18:3, ”Truly I [Jesus] say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3). Wow! Now I know that Duncan loves me (and his mother) for a number of reasons, but last night he was consumed with great joy and love because of the gift that he had received from his daddy. He just couldn’t control himself; he couldn’t help himself; he forgot himself and suddenly just blurted it out, “I love you!” I do have to say that the Xbox 360 is a pretty awesome gift (I’m looking forward to wasting a few hours on it this weekend), but it pales in comparison to the gift of God in the person of Emmanuel – “God with us.” It is a gift that I received some 32 years ago when He removed every condemnation and judgment that stood against my eternity from my record. You know it just makes me want to run into His presence; fall to my knees; throw out/up my hands; and cry, “Thank You! I LOVE You!”
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