Gift Giving Learning from Jesus

I normally write over fifty cards each Christmas season and I try to personalize each by expressing an original sentiment in each because I hate getting cards that are only signed by the giver.  This year, however, I never made the time to write my cards and I was feeling guilty for not dedicating the time to do so because it’s the season of giving.  Over two-thousand years ago God gave us his son- my nephew has been saying that he heard that December twenty-fifth is not Jesus’ actual birthdate that the Church used a pagan holiday celebrated on December twenty-fifth to convert people.  I told him that I thought Mother Mary would remember the day she gave birth to her only son and pass it on to the disciples, but that even if Jesus’ actual birthday is not on Christmas Day we celebrate the fact that he came into this world.  We celebrate that God gave us the first Christmas gift in giving us Jesus. 

So, what happens in the gift giving process?  Gadiium et Specs, puts it best “Man… cannot fully find himself except through a sincere gift of self.” God gave us Jesus and each of us in return must give ourselves to Him.  This whole notion of giving ourselves can get diluted in repetition in hearing it so much in our journey or it can just fly beyond our comprehension.  Thus, it’s good to think of this mutual giving in terms of something we know like a couple in love.  When two people love each other there’s this giving and receiving happening both at once, it’s this mutual action that creates closeness and satisfaction.  It also provides a safe haven to grow and to let barriers down.  This week I got a thank you note in the mail from a friend whose wedding I attended.  In it she wrote the sweetest personalized message and it made my day hearing how much my presence, gift and writing about her wedding in my blog meant to her and her hubby.  I felt super elated after reading her card and I messaged her back thanking her for the warm note and then we went through this whole “no, thank you” moment.  This exchange in gifts is an example of mutual giving and receiving- which happens in all healthy relationships.  If this reciprocity is not practiced there won’t be harmony.  Just think of the many times people in your life have complained that they give and give and their partner only takes.  When there isn’t reciprocating actions one party will always feel hurt and used.

On Jesus’ birthday three wise men traveled to his birth place to pay homage and to bring Jesus’ gifts.  There’s a funny cartoon out there that says that if it had been three wise women Jesus would have gotten more practical gifts like diapers, formula and casseroles- but whatever the gifts it always astonishes me that in the Nativity Story there’s an actual gift exchange.  God shows in such a literal way that the lover receives the gift with delight, but also returns this action with love.  Even if our gifts are never to the magnitude of God in giving us His son, God delights in us giving Him our hearts little by little.  Thus, as you place your gifts underneath your Christmas tree ask yourself what gift am I giving God this year?