“Christmastime is here.” Those are the opening words to one of my favorite holiday tunes and the theme of the Charlie Brown Christmas Special. It is one of my favorite specials of the season. I will be watching it here today as I celebrate the day. Also, one of the first ornaments that goes on my tree every year, is a little hallmark ornament of Linus from the Peanuts gang standing on the stage. You push a little button on the side, and he calls for the lights, just like he does in the show. A little spotlight illuminates the entire ornament as Linus states his quoting from the book of Luke. In just a few short lines he sums up so much about the Christmas spirit for me and so much of what I believe God has done for us.
When we are out shopping for trinkets and baubles, we look high and low for the highest-quality gift at the best prices. We want something that will stand up to time. It is a tough selection to make. You want to make sure that every dollar you spend isn’t wasted on a sub-par gift. That’s smart economics and shopping and makes a lot of sense. You want something that can be cherished for many years to come.
However, the downside to all that effort is that these items, sadly, will still eventually wear out and fall apart. Sooner or later, it happens to everything: us included. It’s been a year that has reminded me of the frailty and importance of life. I am not going to go into specifics, but a family member has been dealing with a rather serious health concern this year. Thankfully, the war is going in the favor of my family member, but it is a wake-up call. Nothing lasts forever. Or does it?
Going back to my favorite part of my favorite Christmas special, I promise I can tie all this together. While we search for the most durable goods for our shopping dollars, we sometimes lose sight of the fact that the highest quality gift we could ever receive won’t ever fade or age and won’t cost us a single penny. It is the gift that we were given that night so many years ago.
It is a gift that we certainly didn’t deserve. We certainly found ourselves on the greatest naughty list of all time. Yet, like any good parent, God had undying love for his children and gave us the greatest gift of all time, his son. We sometimes like to think that we remember this during the season of giving. It is easy to sometimes lose in the hub-bun of the season. But the reminders aren’t’ silent. They’re everywhere around us. In the songs we sing and hear, in the decorations on the tree, and in the memories we all hold dear.
So, while you are enjoying time with your families this holiday season, don’t forget the greatest and most durable gift of all that we never had to pay for. The gift of Jesus coming to live among us and shoulder our sins and cleanse us for the gift of heaven.
From my family to yours, and from all of us at the Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network. Merry Christmas.
