Jesus Gave the Greatest Gift of All
Written by Dan Sullivan
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given.
Isaiah 9:6
Greater love has no one than this; that he lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:13
I love the Christmas season for a number of reasons. I think of the imagery of the colors and lights, Bible readings and songs. Oh, the songs. Randy Stonehill sings, “And I know that if Saint Nicholas was here he would agree that Jesus gave the greatest gift of all for you and me.” Just think of a silent night in a little town in Bethlehem where a child is born, who would bring glad tidings of great joy, even joy to the world.
But I must admit that I also love Christmas because of the presents; all kinds of presents, sometimes great and sometimes not. My all-time best present is easy. It was over sixty years ago when I woke, with anticipation, to a cold Christmas morning, and under the tree was a shiny red toy model car with a gas motor on the back. I had so much fun with that car for the two days I owned it, before it crashed into the curb and it was wrecked beyond repair.
And my worst present is easy too, but the memory is more complex. It was the very next year. I was an eleven-year-old little brother with a fourteen-year-old old big brother. We both wanted bikes for Christmas. We woke up and ran to the tree where my brother’s name was on a beautiful gold ten speed Schwinn Varsity derailleur and I got a three speed bike. He got a teenagers’ bike and I got a KIDS’ bike. I don’t remember what color it was and I never remember riding it or even what happened to it. I didn’t hide my disappointment and my mother sat me down. Little did I know that within four years, my brother would be fighting in the jungles of VietNam and I would receive his hand-me-down derailleur. I liked that bike and rode it a lot.
But over all these years, I reflected, with a dose of guilt, on being ungrateful in my response to the best present my parents could afford for me. I think the lesson is that when your father gives you a sacrificially loving gift, you should intentionally receive it and use it for the purpose it was intended.
But I must admit that I also love Christmas because of the presents; all kinds of presents, sometimes great and sometimes not. My all-time best present is easy. It was over sixty years ago when I woke, with anticipation, to a cold Christmas morning, and under the tree was a shiny red toy model car with a gas motor on the back. I had so much fun with that car for the two days I owned it, before it crashed into the curb and it was wrecked beyond repair.
And my worst present is easy too, but the memory is more complex. It was the very next year. I was an eleven-year-old little brother with a fourteen-year-old old big brother. We both wanted bikes for Christmas. We woke up and ran to the tree where my brother’s name was on a beautiful gold ten speed Schwinn Varsity derailleur and I got a three speed bike. He got a teenagers’ bike and I got a KIDS’ bike. I don’t remember what color it was and I never remember riding it or even what happened to it. I didn’t hide my disappointment and my mother sat me down. Little did I know that within four years, my brother would be fighting in the jungles of VietNam and I would receive his hand-me-down derailleur. I liked that bike and rode it a lot.
But over all these years, I reflected, with a dose of guilt, on being ungrateful in my response to the best present my parents could afford for me. I think the lesson is that when your father gives you a sacrificially loving gift, you should intentionally receive it and use it for the purpose it was intended.
“But most of all the children, I hope that they will learn
That Jesus is our Savior and He’s going to return.
And that Christmas isn’t just a day and all days aren’t the same.
Perhaps they’ll think about the word and see it spells His name.”
Randy Stonehill
That Jesus is our Savior and He’s going to return.
And that Christmas isn’t just a day and all days aren’t the same.
Perhaps they’ll think about the word and see it spells His name.”
Randy Stonehill
Merry Christmas!
Reflective Question for the Day
When you ponder the sacrificially loving gift the Father gave us in Jesus, how does it strike you?
Where do you need to intentionally receive it?
Dan Sullivan is a mostly retired school psychologist who is generally in good standing with the Sullivan/Austin/Coastline Clans. He knows the Advent season is a time of reflection on love, joy, hope and peace. Dan loves Christmas!