Missing Christmas – what was I thinking!

In 1988 while on the Okinawa, Japan aka “the Rock”, I was to celebrate my first Christmas away from home and I was going to do so without celebration. My mother had written and asked what I would like and I had sent back that I would wait until I returned to the States to celebrate Christmas.

Christmas morning arrived, a cold and overcast morning and I stayed in my bed. My fellow officer in the room next door however, had other plans. Everyone from his home town and every relative he had must have sent him some gift. He began opening presents and another of our friends was video taping him, I could hear him through the walls. Each gift opened came with a “hello, so and so, thanks for the what ever.” With each additional gift and exclamation of joy by him, I slunk further beneath my covers in sadness and dejection.

But it was all of my own making. The offer of gifts had been made and I refused them. My expectation of no loss and future joy was dashed to pieces by the reality of one who gladly received and rejoiced at the reception of gift upon gift. I promised myself then and there that I would not miss another Christmas, not turn down another gift offered, not presume to be able to make it on my own without the love and compassion of those who loved me.

So many actually reject the gift of Christmas, Jesus Christ. They presume that they can make it on their own and the presents, gifts of God’s grace and mercy, the forgiveness of sins, is not something they either need or desire. Sadly, in some cases, there are those who approach the gift of salvation and free forgiveness for Jesus sake, as something that they don’t deserve so they won’t receive it. They will turn it away because they are certain that their sins are too great. This is wrong. No sin is to great to negate God’s gift of mercy, grace and salvation. And conversely, no one is so good that they deserve this gift. That is why it is called gift.

We are all sinful, we are all deserving of God’s wrath and just punishment for our sin. Yet, God is merciful to all because Jesus died for all men, for all sin and to save all men from eternal death. The gift of Jesus’ righteousness is freely given to all who will receive it. It is given by His Word and in Holy Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Every Lord’s Day is “Christmas” even as it is also “Easter”. It is a day of receiving underserved gifts from God, freely given because He loves you. Lord willing, I will never miss another “Christmas”. I hope and pray you won’t miss any either as the Lord has so many gifts to shower upon you too.