The holiday season isn’t just about receiving gifts, but giving them; even to yourself.
Now this isn’t a new concept. Many people give during this holiday season. But are you giving for the right reason?
On the first Christmas the ultimate gift was given, the Son of the Living God.
What is giving?
Many people think that giving is just about giving something physical, although it’s not.
Giving comes in many forms. It is not something that should be just boxed into physical terms. It is so much more!! You can give someone your time, love, care, encouragement, and if necessary, something tangible.
A question we should ask ourselves, is why. Why are we giving? Are we giving because we want to? Or is it because we feel we have to? Or are we after something in return?
When we give a gift because we are under compulsion to do it, it becomes a burden and loses the meaning of giving. When we decide in our hearts that we want to give something, then the reason becomes evident in the way it is given.
Plus, when we give willingly, we will enjoy it, and in some peculiar, fantastic way the giver will receive an unequalled blessing that fulfills the reason for giving.
The impact
I know that when I receive a gift it will change my whole perspective on things, shifting my mood for the whole day.
The joy that is felt when someone is given a gift can never be replaced.
One of the things that stops us from giving is fear. Fear of “what they will think,” or the fear of humiliating ourselves, but really giving is about blessing no matter what others may think.
The impact of giving a gift goes beyond just making someone’s day. It lets a person know that we care for them, that they are valued and that they are loved.
The more spontaneous, the better
Whether it’s holidays or our birthdays, giving and receiving a gift is normal. But what if we went out of our way to give someone a gift to say thank you, without it being a special occasion?
The meaning and experience of receiving a gift, means so much more when someone is least expecting to receive a gift.
Giving to yourself
Giving to yourself may sound like a selfish thing to do, although the gift I am talking about is not the latest new iPhone, or the latest new car, I am talking about the gift of love.
Loving yourself is one of the greatest things you can do for yourself, especially in the craziness of the holiday season. Take some time to have a nice bath, read a book and relax.
We may say we don’t have time, but we do! We must make time for ourselves so that we can be that giving person to the people we love.
The people around us are at their best when we are at ours.
The ultimate gift
The greatest gift that has ever been given, is the gift of Jesus Christ.
God sent his one and only Son to Earth to eventually be murdered to save humanity.
This gift allows us all to experience, love, peace, joy and more, so much larger, so much bigger; more than we could ever imagine.
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“I wonder if this Christmas they'll begin to understand,
The Jesus that they celebrate is much more than a man…...”
Randy Stonehill (Christmas Song for All Year Round)
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Picture this… You are a father and have to choose whether or not you will give your only son to die for a broken world. Would you do it?
This is the God I worship; The God that loves me so much that he would sacrifice his Son to save even me.
Conclusion
This Christmas, don’t just give because you have to, but because you want to, find the joy in the act of making and blessing someone’s day.
And, most of all, don’t forget the ultimate gift that the Living God has gifted to us.
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