By Pastor Devin Strong, Spirit of Peace Lutheran Church.
What could be more essential to consider during the Christmas season than the gift of time? Google says the average American household will spend about $1,000 on holiday edibles, gifts and decorations. It’s stressful to try and get everything accomplished and, given the current shipping issues, scoring those “perfect” gifts in time for Christmas Day might be a real challenge. All of it could make us want to cry out, “It’d be great – if we just had more time!”
The good news is that while we can’t create more time in a day, it’s possible to give someone the gift of time. About 20 years ago, I was in a serious car accident, causing a spinal cord compression to my neck that ultimately made me a wheelchair user. After an expensive surgery and rehabilitation, the following Christmas, my wife Chris and I could only afford gifts for our own children. We decided to write detailed letters to the rest of our family, sharing special memories, appreciation for all we’d learned from them and how much we treasured our relationships. Halfway through, I began feeling guilty about not giving them “things.”
When I shared my concern with Chris, she said, “Quick!
Tell me what you got for Christmas last year!”
I couldn’t remember a single gift, which clearly proved her point, and the letters went out.
Further “proof” arrived via my dad on Christmas afternoon.
“Sorry it took me so long to call and thank you for your gift,” he said. “But I had to stop crying first.” Chris’ grandmother’s letter meant so much to her that she hung it on the wall and, as her eyesight failed, asked everyone who visited to read it out loud. Those letters were treasured by all who received them, yet we’d given them “nothing” but the gift of our time. It makes me wonder if 2021 might be another good year to write letters. Rather than give our loved ones pricey “things,” perhaps we could give them the priceless gift of time!
During Christmas, Christians celebrate the holy gift of the Incarnation. Emmanuel literally means “God with us,” and the way God Almighty blesses us at Christmas isn’t with things. It’s with coming to Earth in the form of a baby in a manger. God offers us God’s person as a human being to be with us – and that’s about as tangible as you get in terms of relationship! Did we maybe get the true spirit of Christmas confused somewhere down the line? Have we forgotten that gifts of time, service and relationship mean more to folks – theologically, emotionally and psychologically – than anything bought in a store or online? The people in our lives want to share connection with us. Who knows? Maybe having all those containers full of “gifts” stuck out in the ocean gives us a reason to think about our Christmas giving a little differently.
On Saturday, Dec.18, from 11a.m.-1 p.m. at Kroger in Richmond Hill, Spirit of Peace will be hosting a “Ring and Sing” to help local families through the Salvation Army. The church choir and volunteers will sing Christmas carols, provide hot chocolate for shoppers and donors – and ring the bell for the iconic Red Kettle! Spirit of Peace would also like to invite everyone to join us for our 7 p.m. Christmas Eve service either in person or online at spiritofpeacelutheran.org.
Have a blessed Christmas! God loves you and so do I.