Written by: Gawie de Lange
Article source: JOY! Magazine
It is that time of year when kids come alive and we, as parents, receive the subtle hints and written notes with suggestions as to what they want for Christmas. Suddenly, the dog gets walked and the trash is taken out without a murmur; the dishwasher gets packed and unpacked in a flash. Rooms are a bit tidier, and the kids even get along, well, most of the time! In the De Lange household, we love giving and being generous – it is one of our collective love languages.
What gifts represent
However, amidst the joyous exchanges of gifts, it is vital to recognise that the true essence of Christmas lies not in tangible gifts, but rather in what they represent. This is why we embrace this time of giving to teach our boys a valuable lesson. Every year we have the “sit down, let’s talk” moment. Rolling of the eyes and gentle sighs normally express their lack of willingness to listen to the annual “lecture” on generosity, gifts, and our eternal salvation.
The greatest gift
We try to teach our boys the tradition that giving gifts at Christmas extends beyond familial ties, fostering a sense of community and compassion. First and foremost, we need to understand that the greatest gift ever given is found in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” This gift starts a conversation with my boys discussing gratitude, redemption, and how much God the Father loves us! I have decided that I will not miss this opportunity – every year, just before the earthly gifts are given – to remind our family of the greatest gift ever given, the reason for our salvation.
Seeking Christ first
In our household, Jesus is considered the most significant gift we will ever receive, and we take time to reflect on this. Why don’t you also take time this year with your family and revisit the significance of our Father and the gift of life and hope He gave us.
Here are three points to ponder on our gift:
1. God’s gift is for our salvation and redemption: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” – John 3:16
2. Bringing light and hope: Jesus is often referred to as the light of the world. He provided a path to a deeper understanding of God’s love and grace. “When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’” – John 8:12
3. Eternal impact: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” – Ephesians 2:8-10
Click here to KEEP UPDATED on the latest news by subscribing to our FREE weekly newsletter.
> Please support Christian media and journalism in South Africa. Help us to spread the Word of God and take a stand for the truth by making a donation to our ministry. We appreciate your support. Click here to take hands with JOY! Magazine.
Date published: 21/12/2023
Feature image: Image for illustrative purposes only. Artwork from www.rawpixel.com
DISCLAIMER
JOY! News is a Christian news portal that shares pre-published articles by writers around the world. Each article is sourced and linked to the origin, and each article is credited with the author’s name. Although we do publish many articles that have been written in-house by JOY! journalists, we do not exclusively create our own content. Any views or opinions presented on this website are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the company.
