Jesus, born away in a manger, couldn’t be more separated from the Christmas
Season. His birth, His past, His existence, His life, His sacrifice, His risen
spirt, His humble origins are supposed to be the center. The center of
Christmas. Now the tree and the presents it protects are the center. Santa
replaces the nativity scene. Elf on the shelf triumphs advent. The supposed
holy season is forgotten. Thrown to the side like a tree after Christmas. Jesus’s
beginnings of his gracious presence in this world has infinitely greater value
than the material gifts given and received. Giving is beautiful, but when the
glitter of the gifts blinds us from the love behind them, they are worthless. Gifts
shouldn’t be judged on their worldly value but rather on the love woven into
them. We have forgotten the love that is the foundation of the first Christmas gift.
A love behind every gift ever given on earth. The love of God. The expensive
wrapping paper, the outrageous bows, and the bright boxes have never held a
gift so dear, as the manger did on Christmas Day.
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