#36 – The Most Precious Christmas Gift – December 20, 2024

2 Corinthians 9:15, “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.”

Up until I was 13 my father was a farmer. Anyone that has farmed for a living (back in the day) knows there were more bad years than there were good. We were very fortunate if, at year’s end, we broke even. We raised our own vegetables and meat so we never went hungry. We always seemed to have what we needed; not all we wanted.

Christmas at our house was always joyful but usually rather skimpy. If we got one present it was enough to put smiles on our faces for weeks.  One year I received a homemade housecoat, a pair of pink slippers and an adjustable birthstone ring that bent the first time I grabbed something tightly. I was tickled to get that and most of the families around the area were in the same “wagon”, so to speak.

I learned to ride a bike when I was about 7, at my oldest sister’s house in Jackson during summer vacation. The bike my middle sister and I had to share was a big old rusted boy’s bike; too big for me.

But I wanted my own bike; one that I wouldn’t have to get up on a bucket, or tree stump to get on.  The next year, all year, I asked for a bike.  My sister, at age 15, asked for a record player.

Christmas Eve came and we headed for the living room to open presents. My sister got the record player she wanted and I got…a necklace? Really!?! I pretended it was the best present ever but inside I wanted to cry. I couldn’t understand why Mary Helen got the gift she wanted and all I got was a necklace!

We accepted the gifts we received, no matter what they were. But when things happen to us in negative ways we grumble and mumble. We can’t see the bigger picture of what has been planned for us in the future. We think, at the moment, all hope is lost.

Suddenly my father said he heard someone on the porch and wanted me to go see who it was. The first time I looked, I didn’t see anybody or anything. When he told me to look again, toward the other side of the porch…there she was! I could hardly breathe and I almost cried with joy! The most beautiful powder-blue girl’s bike I’d ever seen. And it wasn’t a hand-me-down…it was brand new! Handlebar streamers and all!   I named her “Bluebell”.

I discovered later in life that mom and dad made a huge sacrifice to get us those presents that year. God made a sacrifice on Christmas Day, too. He knew, from the beginning of time, that His Son would begin His walk to the cross at the moment of His birth.

As a young girl, that bike was the most wonderful gift I ever received.  As I grew and matured I realized that the most wonderful gift came to me when I first accepted Christ. I had a lot more years of maturing to realize the impact that gift had on my life. I put childish wants and desires ahead of the wants and desires that Christ had planned for me.  I had to mature, given time, to grow into the person I am today. A quote from David Jeremiah says it best…”All the Christmas presents in the world are worth nothing without the presence of Christ”.

Bill Crowder stated in one of the “Our Daily Bread” booklets, “Many people know the Christmas story, but we don’t often stop to think about the immense sacrifice Christ made on our behalf.  We fail to consider where He came from, what He endured, and what He offers us”. 

He is Emmanuel…the God that is with us.  He is with us every day of our lives…not just at Christmas, or Thanksgiving, or Easter; He is with us ALL the time.  He left us with the Holy Spirit to continue teaching, comforting, help in understanding, and help us to discern truth from lies and false teaching. The Holy Spirit is our closest Friend because He is part of us. 

Jesus offers the most precious gift to us all. Believers have been given this gift. It never gets old, broken or tarnished and you’ll never want to return it; Eternal life.

If offered – accept it. If you’ve accepted it – don’t take it for granted. It’s the gift that God designed especially for you. Unwrap it and enjoy!

Dear Jesus, thank you for all you have done for us and thank you for the gift of salvation.  May we remember you throughout this Christmas season and throughout our everyday life.  Amen

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL!!!

Nancy Stoppe                     

Stoppe123@comcast.net

 (Jenner Township Baptist Church, Boswell, PA 15531)

Blog – inspirationalinsights6.com

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