Share the Blessing

December 20^th. How did this sneak up on me? I guess I technically knew all along that Christmas was coming closer and closer, but it still hit me hard when I wrote the date down this morning. I confess, this season has not been a typical Christmas season for us. We’ve been so wrapped up in trying to get the basement finished, coordinating schedules so someone could be at home when sub-contractors were here, planning and preparing for Seth’s graduation and the following graduation/Christmas party that we have neglected the opportunity to think upon and ponder the season and to be joyful. In our busyness, we gave up joy.

I’m writing this because yesterday was the last day of one of my gymnastics classes before our Christmas Break. We, the coaches, prepared little gifts for our adorable 5-7 years old gymnasts, and they brought us some little things too: cookies, candles, bracelets, Christmas cookies, etc. But I think my two favorites were from little Riley and Juliana. They gave us homemade cards complete with their drawings.

“gimnasticks for ever! Happy holidays ms. Meggin! Thank you for teaching me the stretches I have ben doing theme. Love Julie.”

“Magn. Hav a mare krisms Magin. Lve riley.”

There was something about receiving these cards that gave me warm fuzzies inside. While I cherish the gifts, there is something about the handmade cards that takes effort and thought and makes me realize that these girls were happy to sit down and make cards for their gymnastics coaches.

During a season where everyone is busy, it’s nice to get something homemade. Stores now cater to the busyness of the season by providing everything you may need premade, wrapped, and maybe even discounted so you can stock up. And it is so easy to fall into this and just try to crank out the Christmas cards without even considering who we are giving them to. I think what I love about these cards is that each one was different for each coach. These little girls had to sit down and think of something to say to each coach, rather than just copying one message.

In Acts 20:35 Paul says, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” This is because the blessing is passed to the recipient, and, while joy may fill your own heart as you are able to give to others, joy also fills the hearts of others. Blessings are not meant to be coveted or kept to ourselves. They are meant to be shared. God told Abraham that through him all the peoples of the earth would be blessed (Genesis 12:3). Psalm 67:1-2 says, “May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine on us—so that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations.” God’s blessing to us is meant to be passed on and shared. Riley and Juliana blessed me and gave me great joy because I knew they took the time to make a card specifically for me. Their gift restores me, and gives me reason to continue to share and give to others.

This is the season of giving. This is when God gave us the greatest blessing every, his son. He gave us hope and dignity, for He still thought we were worth saving despite everything humanity had done, and was going to do. Let us give to others this same hope and dignity, not just by acknowledging them with a gift or mass produced card – there is nothing wrong with these, but we also need to acknowledge them with our hearts and minds and prayers.