A WOMAN’S PERSPECTIVE

Then one year my Mother answered all of those questions with a story and a Christmas theme. This year’s theme was entitled the “No Gift Christmas“. As a child I was like “wait what”? I’ve been so good purposefully so that I can stay on the “Nice list“, and now you’re telling me all that was in vain. That was truly upsetting because there were some individuals that I wanted to give a piece of my mind, but I couldn’t because of that nice list that I wanted to stay on.

Rhoda

TURNER

THE PERFECT GIFT

When I was a child Christmas was my most favoritest holiday. I know that favoritest isn’t a word and using most in front of that word is grammatically incorrect. However, that’s how I felt. It was the holiday that I was truly excited about.

As a child I started preparing for Christmas in November right after my birthday. I would look and see what gifts I didn’t receive so that I can place those requests on my Christmas list. The media portrays Christmas as a time of giving. It’s also orchestrated around a man named Santa Claus who gives gifts to all of the children who are naughty and nice. So, technically, I prepared for Christmas at the beginning of the year. I wanted Santa to bring me something through the chimney (that we didn’t even have) at midnight while I opened my gifts that evening, and he was supposed to bring them on his sleigh flown by reindeers. My expectations looking back, l made all of that a tad bit confusing. But I played along with a whole bunch of unanswered questions. My mother began to tell us the story found in the 2nd Chapter of Luke. This was the parable that I’ve heard before during the Church’s Sunday School Christmas program where I would tremble in fear, because I hated memorizing the speeches that I knew I was going to forget. (I had horrible stage fright; to this day I’m still overcoming). As my mother proceeded she began to talk about Mary and Joseph, who traveled a journey to be counted (census) while Mary was with child that was conceived through an immaculate conception.

As the story goes when Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem every place they went they were turned away except for a barn in the back of one inn that was referred to as a manger. As my mom was telling us this story she asked us to close our eyes and to imagine how they might have been feeling. At that moment I began to weep. My mother asked me why I was crying and I shared with her that I knew what rejection felt like and wanting to give up, but I kept pushing because I knew that something great was living inside of me. I know that’s how Mary felt.

As Mary settled in she gave birth to baby Jesus who we refer to as the Ultimate Sacrifice. As the tree was without decorations and not a gift underneath it, I understood what I already knew… that Christmas isn’t about us giving to each other, or a tree, or the big meal that we didn’t have that year either. It was about the ultimate gift and that’s the gift of life. So, this year I challenge you to do what we do in our household. We give a gift to Jesus because it’s His birthday. Have you ever had a birthday party where everyone in the room got a gift but you? That would be bogus. It would be unkind to the guest of honor. This year give a gift to the person we celebrate. That gift doesn’t have to be a financial gift. It can be a gift of your time. Do something for Jesus that would make Him happy. Give a gift this year that will continuously give back to others. Give a gift that keeps on giving.

Rhoda Turner

Pastor Rhoda Turner

Christian Faith Fellowship Church Chandler, AZ www.cffaz.org

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During a faith-based visit Mr. & Mrs. Santa: ❖ May ask your family for prayer requests. ❖ Talk about celebrating the birth of Jesus. ❖ Share the nativity story. ❖ End with a family prayer (if requested).