Tuesday, December 13, 2022

Part I: God's Gift to Us

Past Christmases 

As another Christmas approaches, I reflect upon my previous understanding and perspective regarding this holiday.  

My attitude during my childhood years was mixed. Sadly, I wish my focus would have been more on Christ than on presents. 

As I grew older and into my college years and early adulthood, the magic of Christmas began to wane and I saw it merely as a cheap marketing ploy by businesses to increase revenue -- which I saw as nothing more than greed.

 Part of this came from my “enlightened state,” as (perhaps) well meaning professors made sure to remind me about the oppressive nature of capitalism and that true freedom came from within their hallowed “ivory” walls, even though probably half couldn’t balance their own checkbook yet they somehow had the solution to solve the world ills.  

And I bought it, hook, line, and sinker.  

Change of Heart 

Fortunately for me (but not quickly enough for my family) this scrooge-like attitude changed as I dedicated myself more to Christ.  

Well, my attitude sort of changed --as my wife is witness.  For a period I could still not get past the over-commercialization that seemed to obscure the true meaning of Christmas and consequently, despite the message of Christmas and the attendant holiday good will, I had some bitterness when this holiday season came around. The non-stop Christmas music didn’t help either.  

Now as a father of a very excited and impressionable two-year old, my view on Christmas has once again changed.  

My daughter is at the age where she understands the idea of presents and the concept of Santa.  Last year he was the boogie-monster, as attested by her Santa photos -- all tears and no joy.   

Yet this time around, not only is she excited for Santa and friendly when she sees “him” but she knows she needs to be on the nice list or else she is getting coal.  And yes, we have leveraged this to counter her toddler obstinacy, which she is perfecting at the worst possible moments -- run away from mom in a crowded parking lot, done.  Sit down in the middle of the store aisle, perfected.  However, little does she know that given the rise of price in oil these days (and in the future), a lump of coal in her stocking might be the better option -- but I won’t tell her. 

Consequently, she is very eager for Santa to pay a visit -- and I am very eager to spoil her rotten.  Of course, I’ll refrain -- at least I hope so, but Amazon doesn’t make it easy. 

But with saying this, I think the change in my attitude has come from my overwhelming desire to see my daughter happy -- and the fact that I have yet to hear “Last Christmas” by Wham!.  It brings joy to my heart to see her excitement as she talks about Christmas and munches her way through her advent calendar -- and even mine.  

Giving Brings Joy 

This is not to say that material gifts are the sole source of happiness or that we can expect to satisfy our kids' happiness through the gifting of material things, but it does show that for loving parents, we can express our love for our children through gifts.  And in turn, we also receive joy as we see that we’ve given them some happiness -- even through it is fleeting as more wishes (demands) accumulate each and every year. 

Nevertheless, I think this principle gives us insight into God’s character and his relationship to us as our Father who gives good gifts to us because he loves us. 

Indeed, God, who loves us more than we can imagine, granted us the gift of his Son.  

I do look forward to Christmas morning when my toddler will see what Santa has brought and the joy she'll have playing with her new toys.  I'm also excited that unlike previous Christmases, where the focus was on me and what I wanted, I will take joy in making my daughter happy -- however slight.  

In some sense this is a view into the long awaited Zion society.  Each will find greater joy in the success and happiness of others than their own.  I think of Ammon and the sons of Mosiah and the extended joy they had in reclaiming the lost Lamanites. 

The Gift of Everlasting Joy 

But Christmas gifts can only do so much to express the love I have for her.  Toys become outdated only to be replaced by some new toy that is better and cooler.  Kids also age and their interest changes. 

I look at the toys I've collected through the years.  I remember opening up and thinking life could not get any better -- until something else caught my attention And the only time I've paid attention to them was when I had to find a place to store them.  They haven't provided much value to me for a long time. 

As I am thinking about what are the best gifts I could give my daughter, would it be any different from what God would give when it comes to his gifting (and blessing) his children?  If God is loving (which he is) and desires bring us everlasting joy (which he does), and the gift of Christ was the greatest thing that God gave us, then his giving of his Son to earth must be a big deal and the source of true joy. 

But just how big? 

And what kind of joy?

That's the focus of the next part. 

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