Karen’s Korner
It looks as though Christmas is making its way to us. All the decorations are up around town, all the stores are full of Christmas merchandise, and the grocery stores smell of cinnamon and spice, and all things nice and delicious. Everyone seems to be getting in the Christmas spirit. I love this time of the year. There are so many memories of my childhood that just seem to appear this time of the year.
The memory of going to get that special tree in the woods! It was one of the few times that my Daddy and I would go on this great adventure! It couldn’t be too big because our living room could not hold a big one. It had to be just the right size. He still had to pick me up to put the star on top, though. That was the highlight of my Christmas…being with my Daddy, finding just the right tree and cutting it down.
Before he would leave, he would have a cup of hot chocolate and help me decorate it. Jimmie and Grandma would be right in the middle of cooking and would come into the living room and offer suggestions of where to put some of the ornaments…and there had to be plenty of room under it for the presents that Santa would eventually bring on Christmas Eve. Every once in a while, a gift would appear as if to come early, but I could only look, not touch. Presents were for opening on Christmas morning. I could barely wait.
I think of Christmas quite differently now as I have aged over all these years. The gifts come throughout the year in family, friendships, experiences, blessings, and everyday happenings. Every day is a gift now…a roof over my head is a gift…a good meal is a gift…a wonderful visit with an old friend is a gift…accomplishing a goal is a gift…helping another is a gift, and that is one of the best.
A gift is “something voluntarily transferred by one person to another without compensation; the act, right, or power of giving,” but it is more than that.
It is that which comes from the heart. We give because we choose to, because we want to. It is a freedom that we have in our hearts…to give.
As we know, this season represents the greatest gift ever given to man. The gift of the Christ Child. Child! Luke 2: 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.” What a gift, freely given from the heart of God to the heart of man……May we have a giving heart this Christmas!