Christmas. The season of good will, peace on earth and other dreams. A time of decorations and celebration and giving. Oh how we like to give and get those presents. We've built an entire custom out of giving and receiving in the form of Santa Claus and using commercialism to create the spirit of Christmas. We enjoy it so much we've extended it beyond the day, the twelve days, to the month and a half. Some claim that it's not the manner in which we go about Christmas that counts. Even without the birth of Jesus, the reason for the season and the religious holiday believers and non alike share, there is after all the spirit of GIVING. Whether it is based on God giving us His Son or Santa giving toys to good girls and boys, it's all about the giving. So they say.
But what is giving? Is it how much you spend? Is it the thought behind the gift? Again the answer would be neither. The true value of giving is based on how much the giver sacrificed in order to give, on how much they had to give up in order that someone else may benefit. Jesus gave up his life in order to give. Santa gives up one night of the year. What do we give up? A few dollars? Time at the mall better spent? Reality for the sake of a contrived festivity? Isn't it funny how the true meaning of giving comes forth in the fact that to do it right, we have to give... not gifts, but of ourselves in order that someone else may benefit.
The more we have to personally give up for ourselves the greater that gift becomes to others, no matter how small, whether they are even aware. How much has your life changed overall from what you hoped it would be... in order to benefit others? How much have you given up? There is the true measure of what we have accomplished in life. There is the original gift given to us by way of Christmas.
If you decide now perhaps you have fallen short, there is always Christmas as a starting point of a new beginning, a new birth, a chance to use your life in a deeper and more meaningful way. It's all about the giving... of yourself.
© ...timothyu
But what is giving? Is it how much you spend? Is it the thought behind the gift? Again the answer would be neither. The true value of giving is based on how much the giver sacrificed in order to give, on how much they had to give up in order that someone else may benefit. Jesus gave up his life in order to give. Santa gives up one night of the year. What do we give up? A few dollars? Time at the mall better spent? Reality for the sake of a contrived festivity? Isn't it funny how the true meaning of giving comes forth in the fact that to do it right, we have to give... not gifts, but of ourselves in order that someone else may benefit.
The more we have to personally give up for ourselves the greater that gift becomes to others, no matter how small, whether they are even aware. How much has your life changed overall from what you hoped it would be... in order to benefit others? How much have you given up? There is the true measure of what we have accomplished in life. There is the original gift given to us by way of Christmas.
If you decide now perhaps you have fallen short, there is always Christmas as a starting point of a new beginning, a new birth, a chance to use your life in a deeper and more meaningful way. It's all about the giving... of yourself.
© ...timothyu
