Got gifts?

1 Corinthians 12:31 says "But eagerly desire the greater gifts."

As we are in the the Christmas season, how often do you hear someone say, "If only I could get this for that person, that would be the perfect gift?" How often have even I went out to look for just the right (read perfect here) gift for someone who is special to me? To only realize its out of my reach. Or I get that "right" gift and its opened and not thought of as I intended or pictured. Has this happened to you as well? You see the look on the recipient's face and realize what you thought as such a great gift isn't what they were hoping to receive. If only we would all stop and think about why we even have the Christmas season. Its about our one perfect, sinless gift that we all have the chance to receive. A gift that cost one person their life so that we could have an abundance in life here on earth and even more of an abundance of life in Heaven. What is the most perfect gift? It is the gift of our Savior, Jesus Christ. From whom did we receive this gift from? John 3:16 gives us that answer. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." How can we as humans give any more of a perfect gift than that? And not only does our gift from our loving Father end there. 1 Corinthians 12:4 tells us, "Now there are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but it is the same Holy Spirit who is the source of them all." I can't think of anything more than that I need. I have all these wonderful gifts bestowed on me by my heavenly Father, who could ask for more? This year my family like many others that we know, have cut back on gifts this year. Instead we are focusing on what is more important to us. We have found that giving to others has replaced what we give as gifts to each other more appealing. Especially the giving of gifts to those less fortunate than our family. And its been more than just the giving to others this year, its been just having time with our families and friends as well. Listening to the older generation passing their wisdom down to the younger generations. There is no other earthly gift that can have more meaning than those that await us in Heaven, so my challenge is one of remembering one silent night long ago in Bethlehem, when our most perfect gift was given to us. Happy Birthday Jesus, we are so glad and ful of praise that you came to pay our debt in full and to conquer the grave. What a truly special and perfect gift from such a loving and merciful Father. May you all stop and remember with me this Christmas season.