 |
| www.lds.org/media-library |
I am the type that loves gifts with meaning. I always hate it when someone asks me, “What do you want for Christmas?” Quite frankly, the types of things that I want are items that I need to save up for myself, like a truck or a trip to Disneyland with my family. What I really “want for Christmas” is a gift that shows you care and took time to be thoughtful.
However, I have been guilty of not appreciating
well-meaning and thoughtful gifts. Take the nose hair trimmer my brother got
me one year. No, seriously. He heard me complaining about getting old
and…well…having nose hair (TMI, I know). So he bought me a hair-nose trimmer
that actually had various attachments so that I could also trim my hair because I cut
my own hair. I still laugh about that gift.
The next year as we drew names for sibling gifts I jokingly whined about the nose hair trimmers. My family saw what I was saying, but another brother made a sarcastic comment about being ungrateful and made me sound like a whining 5-year old. Immediately, I realized my hypocrisy, because my brother truly did put thought
into the gift. Not only was the gift thoughtful, the mere thought of getting a nose hair trimmer for
Christmas has brought me continued laughter and joy just thinking about it. It really is the gift that keeps on giving ;)
What is a Gift?
The world needs more meaningful gifts and we need to do a
better job at appreciating the thoughtfulness of the gifts we receive. Christmas
gifts should not be like a waiter’s gratuity. We should not expect a minimum of
15% from others and we should not complain if we receive the bare minimum or less than what we expected. Likewise, our own thoughtfulness in giving
gifts to others should not justify us in complaining about (what we think are) thoughtless or lame gifts that we receive from others.
Gifts are meant to be given WITHOUT expectations in return. Just
Google the definition of “Gift” if you don't believe me:
Noun: A thing given willingly to someone without payment; a present. "a Christmas gift"
Verb: Give (something) as a gift, especially formally or as a donation or bequest. "the company gifted 2,999 shares to a charity"
Why We Give Gifts
My point is that gifts are not the
point of giving gifts. Confused?
The point of a gift is to show thought, honor, respect
and/or love for someone or something that we care about. You cannot tell me
that when a little child draws you a picture for your Birthday, Christmas, or
just for the heck of it, that your heart does not melt at their instinctive
nature to love and give you a meaningful gift. That is why we give gifts. That
is why the Wise Men gave gifts to the Christ child.
Matthew 2:10-11
When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshiped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
The Wise Men did not give gifts first. They joyed and worshiped first. They did not give gifts because it was an expectation.
They did not feel a sense to show up one another. Their gifts were meant to be
a simple outward expression of their joy, worship, respect and love for Jesus Christ who
would someday sacrifice his own life for the sins of all mankind.
Jesus Christ's sacrifice was the greatest gift ever given to all of God’s children—that includes you—even if we refuse to accept or acknowledge it.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
No comments:
Post a Comment