The most important gift this season has already been given that first Christmas. It was a busy, overwhelming, and stress filled time as well. Yet I believe there was stillness and peace too.  Knowing they were walking in God’s will, living for Him, and following Him was all that mattered. 

Today, I let the worries of this life and the expectations of others bog me down. Mary had to choose not to do that. Although she carried the divine son of God, she was fully human just like me. She had to entrust her worries, insecurities, and anxieties to God and allow Him to work through her and use her as He saw fit.  God had an incredible purpose for her, one like no other in history, but He has a purpose for me too. I need to be still and listen to His leading each day so I can live that surrendered life day by day as she modeled. 

Weeks ago, my brother asked me what he may have thought to be a simple and perhaps fun question: “What is something you’ve always wanted, or wanted to do but would never buy for yourself? Don’t even think about Price.” As I contemplated the answer to that question, I realized that even though there are fun things in life to receive, have, or do, there is nothing I need that I don’t already have or have access to.  My realization was that I’ve already received the only gift that matters, which began about 9 months before Christmas when the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary. That began the hope of my salvation. Because of Jesus, his birth, life, ultimate death, and resurrection to provide a way for humanity to be reunited to God in a way that the original sin of Adam and Eve began is priceless.  (It didn’t start there but way at the beginning when God began to set in motion his plan to restore His relationship with humanity because of His love for us.)  Without Jesus’ sacrifice, I couldn’t be forgiven and have that restored relationship with God which is the only thing that allows me to have the confidence, hope, peace, and strength I can walk in, knowing that when I die, I will live forever with Him. And, in this life, I can walk daily knowing that the Creator of the world, the King of Kings, the Prince of Peace is literally Emmanuel, God with us, and walks with me every day teaching, leading, encouraging, strengthening, rebuking, calming, and loving me. What more do I need?!  Nothing. Yet, when asked, I realized that the only other gift I desire, second as deeply in my whole heart to my own salvation and relationship with God, is that all those I know and love would come to an understanding of their need for a Savior, which is only found in Jesus Christ, repent of their sin and receive His free gift of forgiveness and salvation, and continue to walk in a surrendered life to His leading all their lives.  That is what I want for Christmas.