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“Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift” (2 Cor. 9:15).  

A New York paper devoted many pages over several weeks to printing letters from children to Santa Claus. They noted that in the three months before Christmas, there were thousands upon thousands of letters asking for something for Christmas.

However, in the months after Christmas, there was only one card addressed to Santa Claus thanking him for gifts received.

This is a great reminder of how quick we are to ask and receive; yet how slow we can be to speak the magic word—thanks, and to embody that magic attitude—thankfulness.

As we begin to take the decorations down and store them away for another year, let’s reflect on two things:

First: We are very fortunate and very blessed.

Let us not forget that!! We have so much, and want for so little.

The Lord has blessed us with life in the most prosperous nation on the planet, and most of us experienced that prosperity yesterday. I know my family did. We had a great Christmas. Santa was good to us, indeed. So much so that I challenged our family to look for ways in which we can give back this year, because

receiving blessings like we received yesterday should cause a grateful attitude to spring forth within us, which should then lead to a giving heart and lifestyle.

The best gift we had (and still do) this Christmas is the one that didn’t have a shiny bow on it, nor did this gift cost us anything. It is priceless, yet it’s free. It’s a gift that’s far more precious than the purest gold or silver in the world! While it is pure, this gift is also stained with the blood of Christ our Lord, and it’s wrapped not with paper, but with the love of God the Father.

Our best gift this Christmas -- and every Christmas -- is what Paul calls an “unspeakable” or “indescribable” gift, that wonderful gift of Jesus Christ as our eternal and glorious Lord!

But, secondly: Let’s remember that some among us had a tough Christmas!

Allison and Ethan spent their first Christmas away from their mother, Sharon, for the first time in their lives, and are still trying to settle into a new normal without this special woman of God. John spent this Christmas without his graceful and beautiful Linda after decades together. Shelley experienced her first Christmas without Steve, who went to be with the Lord a few weeks ago.

Judy W. spent Christmas day recovering from a painful knee replacement surgery. Cupid spent Christmas both recovering from one major procedure and preparing for yet another! Others struggled financially and were forced to scale back some this year as they contend with medical bills. A young lady in our community spent Christmas without her 18-month-old son who died tragically just a few weeks ago.

I could go on, but I won’t. I say all this to simply say that, again, we’re more fortunate that we deserve to be. If we have good health, all of our loved ones with us, and had a present or two under the tree, we did better than much of the world and better than even some in our own community.

Let us remember to be thankful for the ways in which the Lord has lavished His blessings on us. And let’s not forget our duty to reach out to those among us who need to be reminded of God’s love during a difficult holiday season.

Let us this Christmas express both our love for others and gratitude to God by giving ourselves anew to Him and those in our community and church family who need us.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Pastor Myke