The First Christmas Gift

Christmas is Jesus' Birthday, A time to praise the Lord. For sending us his precious Son so many years ago. The story was told by the prophets of old in God's holy word. So now we thank you Father, for your gift of love.

That is a chorus that my mother wrote years ago about Christmas. Christmas is the one holiday ever year that I absolutely love. I love the spirit of giving that possesses people. I love the smiles on the children’s faces as they think about all the toys and games that they will receive on Christmas day.

However somewhere along the way there was a disconnect. Parents quit teaching their children the true meaning of Christmas. The true meaning behind the exchanging and receiving of gifts. The Bible tells us that shortly after the birth of Jesus there were three wise men, Magi if you chose that came bearing gifts to the new King of Kings, Baby Jesus.

That is the first recording of gifts for Christmas in the sense of how we celebrate it now. As the chorus says above, the first gift was the birth of Jesus Christ. That gift was the gift that would give us an eternal life with the Lord if we chose to accept it. I am thankful for that gift, I am thankful for the fact that no matter how hard my life gets, that I have been given the ultimate Christmas gift.

Here’s wishing you and yours a blessed Christmas day, and always remember that there is only one reason for the Christmas season and that is Christ.

Triumph Over Tragedy

First off let me start by saying I do not have kids. So when I say what I am about to suggest keep that in mind.

The events that happened in Newtown, Connecticut on Friday are the worst nightmares of any parent. To send your child off to school, and then get a phone call a few hours telling you what has happened has to be devastating. Especially with Christmas being right around the corner. I do not know how I would react in that situation. At some point since the events on Friday, I overheard someone mention about the parents who had their children taken away from them, having to look at a Christmas tree still with presents underneath for their child. This was an idea I thought of. Every year Toys for Tots does toy drives across the nation to raise money and toys for children who otherwise would have to do without for Christmas. I would like to suggest that instead of keeping those toys bought for the children that were killed, that maybe the parents donate them to Toys for Tots. I would also suggest that we as a nation all purchase a toy in honor of those who were killed and donate it. Instead of letting the evil of the shooting darken our hearts, let’s take this event and make it something that can change the world for the better, not the worse.

Just a thought,

Ronald Hagood Jr.