"Don't worry. I'll give you a penny," the young cashier cheerily offered. She turned to the employee next to her.
"Watch my register. I need to go get my purse. I'll be right back."
"Oh you don't need to do that," I called after her, but she had already disappeared into a back room. I can't believe someone would go to that much trouble - out of her own money. How kind is that!
And then I thought about what my daughter had said to me a few hours before.
She had stopped by after church and in the course of our conversation I asked her what the sermon was all about.
"'What are we giving Jesus for Christmas?'" she responded.
Hmmm. That had not crossed my mind. I had attempted (and failed once again) to do all my Christmas shopping before Thanksgiving so as to avoid the holiday rush. I try to avoid malls at all costs during December. I want the days before Christmas to be peaceful, unhurried and devoid of commercial clutter. But I had not thought of what I would give Jesus for Christmas. What a great sermon topic.
After she left I found a quiet spot and hunkered down with the Lord. "What do You want for Christmas?" I asked. My daughter had plans to give jackets and other gifts to the homeless with a group from her church. Did the Lord want me to volunteer, too? No....I did not get a confirmation on that.
"So what would You like?" I asked again. Then I remembered. BJ (our Maltese dog) and I would be visiting the elderly at a nearby nursing home, bringing them dog-bone shaped Christmas cookies that I made. That was it. But the question still haunted me. Was that enough?
Now I know that we do not have to earn God's love. But I was raised to be a doer and often have to fight the inner accusation that whatever I am doing is not good enough. So I sat a while longer seeking God's heart. What were the non-tangible ways to bless the Lord?
"Whatever you do to the least of these, you have done to Me" (Matthew 25:40) floated into my mind. Whether it is forgiving someone who hurt us, or holding a door open for the next person, or not focusing on ourselves but others - these are gifts to Jesus.
I realize this post is almost bumping into Christmas day, but here are some thoughts about gifts for Jesus (regardless of what day it is):
- an encouraging word to one who is discouraged
- an offer to get together with someone who is grieving
- patience with a family member or friend who tends to rub us the wrong way
- and a heart of gratitude that Jesus came into this dark world to show us God's love and to give us eternal life simply for believing and accepting His gift.
Inspired post, Jane! And it keeps on giving! Thanks. I'll highlight your post on the Christian Poets & Writers blog http://www.christianpoetsandwriters.com.
ReplyDeleteThe Lord woke me up at 2 am with the idea for the post. So glad it blessed you. Merry Christmas....Jane
ReplyDeleteWell Jane thank you for this post. During a Christmas season that is hard this year for many reasons, including losing my wife of 20 years some years back I too heard a sermon asking what will we give Jesus this Christmas. Truthfully, I cringed when I heard that because I had been thinking about myself , mostly. It was right after I heard that that I stepped out my car in a supermarket parking lot and noticed a man trying to fit his walker into a shopping cart. So I went over and asked if I could help him. We started talking. He was HOMELESS, living in his car and asked me for money to buy food. I asked if he had family. He did but were not helping. I asked about a homeless shelter and he said he was afraid of the people there. I knew a friend who works at one. So I told him to wait while I drove all the way home and got phone numbers of my church's peace center for him to get help and I called my friend who told me he would welcome Frank at the homeless shelter and get him some help. It wasn't until I read your post that I considered this might be a gift to Jesus
ReplyDeleteThat is a very heartwarming story of self sacrifice. Thank you for sharing it! I am sure that man will never forget your kindness. Blessings..Jane
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