I just had to write something today to make note of how wonderful this Christmas has been. Sarah and I have had 15 Christmases that we have been blessed to celebrate together. The first eight with just us and extended family. The last seven have been with each other, extended family, Â and our sweet Becca. I want to declare to you how utterly wonderful it is as a parent to just sit back and watch your child tear into Christmas gifts, and watch their eyes light up as they open them. The first eight Christmases were wonderful, but these last seven as a dad have been filled with joy!
"Mommy and Daddy this is the best Christmas EVER!"
This year after Becca finished opening her gifts, she looked up at us and said, “Mommy and Daddy, I have one more gift for you…” and then she put her arms around both of us and gave both of us a huge bear hug. After that she said with a big smile on her face…”I gave you the BEST gift.” That SO blessed this dad’s heart. It blesses me to see her growing into a little girl who enjoys life, relishes every day, and who sees where the real value of family times of celebration like Christmas is found… the value of our relationships with God and with each other… the value of the eternal fruit of the spirit found in Galatians such as JOY, PEACE, AND LOVE. As Paul said in the last half of 1 Corinthians 13:13… “…the greatest of these is love.”
That truth was brought home to me in a real way as Becca hugged us last night. Truly, the greatest gift illustrated so well in the birth, life, death, and resurrection of a sinless Savior for undeserving mankind… is LOVE. “For God SO LOVED the world that He gave…” WOW! What an awesome gift Jesus is to humanity!
I am writing this today because I want to encourage you… Take time this year to hug your kids, no matter how old they are. Take the time to thank God for the gifts he has blessed you with found in your children. Take the time this Christmas as a family and discover together the greatest gift of all this Christmas… LOVE.
