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WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT December 2007 Jesus was God's gift to us on that first Christmas! He came to us as a gift of God's love wrapped in a human package. He walked among us, shared God's word with us and through his life expressed God's plan for our lives. Today Christmas has become a celebration of decorated trees, parties, long shopping days and piles of gifts. While all of the festivities of Christmas, are a delightful part of the season, the most important gift of Christmas is lost in the rush of activity and the urgency to make our holidays a success. The giving and receiving of gifts is often the highlight of Christmas. The gifts we give are intended to represent our desire to express our love for one another. We give a gift either we have chosen or that we know was on a wish list. These gifts bring temporary joy as they meet our desires for the material things that we feel will bring us pleasure and happiness. Gifts once opened, experienced, worn or played with soon lose their luster, lose our interest or get lost among our other belongings. The gift of Jesus and his love is the gift that we can receive anew each day. God's love through Jesus unwraps itself before us each moment of our lives. His gifts of love come to us in a moment shared with a loved one: a conversation with a friend, the smile of a stranger passing by, the song of a bird outside your window; or a glorious sunset. More important than the gifts we will buy, wrap and give to our friends and loved ones this year. We can give the gift of Jesus to every one whose life we touch by expressing the love of God as Jesus did through his life. Our genuine gestures of warmth, caring and kindness unwrap themselves as gifts to others as they experience the love of Christ in us. Give the true meaning of Christmas… Sincerely, Laura Neven
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