Last month my husband and I had the following conversation:
J – “Do you know what next month is?”
Me – “Christmas!!!”
J – {silence}
Me – “Our 14 year Anniversary!!!”
J – {silence}
Me – {a questioning look…}
J – “The new Hobbit movie comes out!”
Well, naturally! I was going to say that, I was just trying to be all romantic and stuff. It’s no surprise to those closest to me know that I love presents. Giving and receiving. Wrapping and unwrapping. Making lists and using lists. I love every single part of every birthday, anniversary and holiday. But let’s be honest – I can make any day a present-giving day.
J – “Do you know what next month is?”
Me – “Christmas!!!”
J – {silence}
Me – “Our 14 year Anniversary!!!”
J – {silence}
Me – {a questioning look…}
J – “The new Hobbit movie comes out!”
Well, naturally! I was going to say that, I was just trying to be all romantic and stuff. It’s no surprise to those closest to me know that I love presents. Giving and receiving. Wrapping and unwrapping. Making lists and using lists. I love every single part of every birthday, anniversary and holiday. But let’s be honest – I can make any day a present-giving day.
Js family has a tradition of trading names and getting together Christmas Eve and exchanging stocking gifts. The goal is to buy as many presents as possible with the allotted money. Last year I had the honorable responsibility of writing down everyone’s names for The Picking Out of The Hat.
Given this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, I of course wrote my name on all 10 pieces of paper. It was discovered weeks later, and my plan was foiled.
Four years ago my Mother-in-Law forgot whose name she had. So she was just going to give Whomever It Was a $20 bill. My Sister-in-Law {very smartly} told her that if she ended up having my name, it would be the worst thing ever for me not to open presents. So she wrapped me a stocking full of presents. That year I received a stocking from my Brother-in-Law AND one from my Mother-in-Law. It was seriously a Christmas Miracle!
My most treasured presents are from friends/family who buy something at Goodwill or a thrift shop and are $1. It’s not the actual present that is a treasure – it’s the fact that they know me well enough to see something that reminds them of me. But please don’t misunderstand me – if someone bought me a villa in Italian hills of Umbria, I would love them forever. ;)
But you know, as much as I love giving {and getting!} presents, I can’t help but think how much MORE the Lord loves it! I mean, this is what Christmas is all about. God ADORED us so much more than we could ever imagine, that He sent us Jesus!
Sometimes I let the busy-ness of Christmas and all the shopping and wrapping and planning and coming and going and unwrapping and eating, get in the way of remembering the excitement of that silent night so long ago.
And so, I'd like to encourage you that when you get excited about giving someone their perfect present, remember that that excitement is absolutely NOTHING compared to all of Heaven rejoicing the night God gave us Jesus Christ.
Given this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, I of course wrote my name on all 10 pieces of paper. It was discovered weeks later, and my plan was foiled.
Four years ago my Mother-in-Law forgot whose name she had. So she was just going to give Whomever It Was a $20 bill. My Sister-in-Law {very smartly} told her that if she ended up having my name, it would be the worst thing ever for me not to open presents. So she wrapped me a stocking full of presents. That year I received a stocking from my Brother-in-Law AND one from my Mother-in-Law. It was seriously a Christmas Miracle!
My most treasured presents are from friends/family who buy something at Goodwill or a thrift shop and are $1. It’s not the actual present that is a treasure – it’s the fact that they know me well enough to see something that reminds them of me. But please don’t misunderstand me – if someone bought me a villa in Italian hills of Umbria, I would love them forever. ;)
But you know, as much as I love giving {and getting!} presents, I can’t help but think how much MORE the Lord loves it! I mean, this is what Christmas is all about. God ADORED us so much more than we could ever imagine, that He sent us Jesus!
Sometimes I let the busy-ness of Christmas and all the shopping and wrapping and planning and coming and going and unwrapping and eating, get in the way of remembering the excitement of that silent night so long ago.
And so, I'd like to encourage you that when you get excited about giving someone their perfect present, remember that that excitement is absolutely NOTHING compared to all of Heaven rejoicing the night God gave us Jesus Christ.
