Just A Few Days

I don’t usually take some time away from posting, but the last few days have been a drain on me. I have struggled with facing the reality that my status at college has changed and I won’t be able to recover. Facing a new normal is never easy when it comes to deep disappointment. I have been struggling with a personal level of motivation and I know that it’s okay to not always be okay. While I can’t pinpoint a specific stressor I know that a combination of things can compound and weigh you down. Sometimes you need to take some time away, recoup, and re-center. The stress from school and everything else forced me to take some time away.

Other then the major disappointment with school, my two favorite events being canceled last week due to snow, there really hasn’t been a lot else to bring stress to my life. If school wasn’t enough to do it of course. This time of the year can be stressful despite the wonderful meaning of this glorious holiday. I have wondered as of late if I could get myself out of my own funk, what would I do for baby Jesus for his birthday if I could.

The song The Little Drummer Boy, a small boy has nothing to give Christ so plays his drum for the baby Emanuel. I have wondered what I could possible give Jesus that would be of any value. What could I give as a gift that would be fit for a King? I feel as if I have nothing of value to offer. I have felt that my life hasn’t produced anything of value to offer. What could a wretch like me offer the King of the Universe?

What does scripture say about having a giving heart? 2 Corinthians 9:7 (NKJV)7 “So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.”  Do we go into this season with a giving heart or is it one of receiving only? Do we give to the corner Santa, or the Salvation Army in front of the store? Do we give to the desire of our hearts, or do we have a Scrooge heart, or worse a heart of a Grinch? I think we place too much thought on the perfect gift rather then a gift from the heart. 

Matthew 2:10-11“When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” Those are fancy words, but what do they mean? Gold, we understand, but what is the rest? Frankincense: an aromatic gum resin obtained from an African tree and burned as incense. This would be a very expensive gift for the time. Myrrh: can be used as incense but also as medicine. This too would have been expensive. After the warning to Joseph to not return, and to flee to Egypt, the gifts of the wise men undoubtedly funded their time in Egypt. 

As I think about scripture and what those first few Christmas’s were like, I feel a blessing about my own. While I don’t know what I could possibly offer Christ, I know that God’s purpose for me means I have something to offer those around me. Sometimes I feel like George Bailey and wonder what life would have been like had I not been born, not saying I don’t value my life, but as a way to see my value to others. God places us in the lives of those around us for a reason and that’s so we can shine the light of Christ through us for others to see. If we truly want to give a gift to Christ this year, be as Christ like as possible. Be full of Christmas cheer, and joy. Show love to all around you, and find your own Christmas Spirit. It’s a lot of pressure these days to give gifts, and shop, and the perfect tree, and decorations, and even within our jobs, to have everything done before the end of the year. No matter what stressors you may have, always remember that the sun rises, and the sun sets, and we can only do so much in a day. Be sure to take time each and every day to thank God for what we have, the many countless blessings the Lord gives us that go unappreciated every day. We are so blessed and we often fail to thank our King for the very blessing of life, and another day. This Christmas season, put a little love in your heart, find the CHRIST in CHRISTmas, and love deeply and firmly.