The Greatest Gift of All
“So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians Chapter 13
Winter has arrived ahead of schedule this year. Tonight, I look out my window and see softly falling flakes of snow drifting in the dim light of the old lamp post in my front yard. How many times I’ve looked out and seen this same winterscape I cannot count. I wonder how many times I’ve looked at nearly the same scene and went about whatever business seemed important to me at the time. And how many times I’ve never really seen anything at all as life passed by me; and I never really saw anything. At all.
But tonight I’m feeling wistful and pensive. Not sad. Just thoughtful. I guess life is flowing by faster than I ever imagined it could. I suppose none of us at age twenty-five can fathom the value of time; the seasons come and go — and here it is Christmastime again. And, it really felt strange this night to think that Christmas is only a few days away.
When I was a child a whole week to wait for Christmas to arrive seemed a painfully long time. Counting down the days and hours made it seem even longer. But Christmas did come – it came and went; it came and went many times and now here I am, many years older, and hopefully, many years wiser, looking back over all those Christmases past. A few days until Christmas? And it will come and be gone in a blink of an eye.
As I look back at Christmases past, the ones I remember most are the ones where I had the least. Perhaps the lavish gifts of the most prosperous years got in the way of the greatest gift of all. Maybe I buried the greatest gift under mountains of other less important gifts. You know the ones, those gifts that soon find their way into the dark, forgotten corners of cluttered closets. The ones that eventually end up discarded in the trash.
It’s such a difficult time now for the younger people in our world. It’s hard recognize the greatest gift when television commercials try to teach us that we can buy someone’s love with something as cheap as a diamond. For what kind of love is love that must be purchased?
And, sadly it’s true – sometimes it can be very hard to see any evidence of the true Spirit or Meaning of Christmas anywhere around us today. But, the Spirit of Christmas is like the wind; just because we cannot see it, does not mean it is not there. If you keep Christmas in your heart, then Christmas will be everywhere you go.
Christmas is almost here again. And whether or not anyone believes in Christmas, does not matter to me. I believe in Christmas. And, all those like me, who believe in Christmas will keep Christmas alive despite those who try so hard to destroy it.
It now falls upon those of us who still believe in Christmas to keep the bright Torch of Christmas burning for this generation and the next. I am certain that if we do, the glow from that Torch will continue to light the world. All we have to do is keep the Torch burning. And, never, ever, let it grow dim.
Over two thousand years ago a child was born in Bethlehem and during His short time upon this earth, He taught everyone, (believer and non-believer alike) the same lesson: Love others as you love yourself.
This Christmas be an example. Keep the torch of Christmas burning. It really doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks; it only matters what you think. Say “Merry Christmas” with a smile and you’ll keep the the Spirit of Christmas alive. And it will remain alive forever.
Carry the Torch of Christmas wherever you go, and never let its fire die. Remember to love those that do not believe as you do as much as those who do.
Be cheerful and compassionate; be understanding of others and have faith. Set a shining example by carrying the Torch of Christmas and holding it high. Let the world see your Christmas spirit and let the glow from it light the world.
Be gentle, be kind, be understanding; be tolerant of others who do not believe as you do, in this world there will be many. And be of good cheer. Remember the Reason for Christmas. Celebrate Christmas in your own tradition and in your own way because it is your right to do so. Remember those who are less fortunate than you and help them as much as you can.
This Christmas remember to give the greatest gift of all. The greatest gift of all costs you nothing. You’ll be far richer by giving it than by receiving it. And even the poorest among you can afford it.
Carry the Torch of Christmas with you during this final week before Christmas and light the way for others. Say “Merry Christmas” and really mean it. This is the season of love and peace. Long ago Jesus came into this world and showed the world His love and brought His message of peace to all those who would listen. Honor Him this Christmas by showing the world your love.
Be a bearer of the Torch of Christmas and hold it high for all to see. Only you can keep the Torch burning. Do it for yourself, do it for your children and do it for their children. Future generations depend on all of us who hold Christmas dear to keep Christmas alive. Christmas will never die as long as we keep Christmas in our hearts and never let the Torch of Christmas grow dark. Over two thousand years ago, the Star of Bethlehem shone brightly for all the world to see; let the Spirit of Christmas within you burn just as brightly – and let all the world see.
This Christmas make the first gift you give the very best one: Give the greatest gift of all; give the gift of love.
“Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, love is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things…. So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians Chapter 13
Wonderful, beautiful, poignant. Merry Christmas. God bless.
Thank you Grace Merry Christmas!
Wow. Very well said and just had to share it!!!!! Thank you!
Thank you Rachel, may your days be merry and bright! Merry Christmas.
One of you best – shared it with all my e-mail friends. Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Doreen.
Thanks Doreen.. Merry Christmas.
Oh! what a breath of fresh air, such this world is sadly missing!!
It Is SO GOOD to see that some one holds to the true values of this life, the values that Christians “supposed” to be holding dear to! (Those who believe in Jesus.)
The true values that would overcome all the problems of/in this world, but sadly, human nature prevails in the majority of cases!
Yes I do appreciate your piece about CHARITY and have always known or guessed that you hold to these values—and—that is why people can and do TRUST YOU!!
Most people think of charity as giving monetary gifts— when it is really the selfless act of giving TRUE LOVE to one another, freely and unreservedly!
Have a great and lovely Christmas and a prosperous new year to all!
Kind regards, Jeff.
Thank you jeff – have yourself a merry little Christmas.
Thank you so much, It is so heartwarming to see a proper Christmas message.
As a Christian originally from England it can never understand why you in Americans say Happy Holidays and not Happy Christmas. We should all rejoice in the name of the Lord and all he has given us.
God bless you and your families and thank you for all your help
Thanks Nigel – Merry Christmas.
I seems each generation thinks of Christmas as a “commercial” holiday, thinking only of themselves and what they will get from Christmas – not what they should give. Give thanks for the birth of Jesus and his love. Keep Christ in Christ mas and give the gift of love.
If only everyone would read and live by those words, not just at Christmas but all year round, the world would be a better place.
Thank you for all your help over the years, and may you have a wonderful Christmas and New Year
Marianrose
Thank you Marian, Merry Christmas!
OH thank you for saying all this, it needs to be said and often. I so agree with all you said!
MERRY CHRISTMAS TC 🙂 MERRY CHRISTMAS DARCY 🙂
MAY LOVE BE WITH YOU ALWAYS, HOLLY
Thanks Holly! Merry Christmas.
This seems the time to once again thank you so much for all the beautiful words you write for us to think about each year. Not always can I live up to the things you say, but as Christmas comes once again it’s so easy to feel loving, and happily say Merry Christmas God Bless to our family and friends and those we may come across day to day.
Merry Christmas and God Bless to you both, and a big THANK YOU for your willingness to help all of us when we need your guidance.
May the New Year bring peace and good health to you both.
Patricia
Thank you very much for your very kind words. May your Christmas be merry and blessed, and may the new year bring you peace and happiness.
What a beautiful and touching Christmas messge. I so agree with Marian, everyone should live by these words all year long.
Merry Christmas TC and Darcy. May both of you and your families have a Blessed and Healthy New Year. Thank you both for all your help and your work.
Shirley
Thanks so much Shirley. Merry Christmas and blessings in the new year.
We wish you and Darcy a very happy Christmas and may the New Year bring joy and peace .
We have so enjoyed your essays and help over the years.
Our love and best wishes
Merry Christmas to you. May your days be blessed with happiness and peace. Thanks so much, TC
Thank you for giving us your wise words. I’ve gotten your help for over 10 years now, and for that I am grateful. I hope you have a very nice Christmas, and that Darcy does too.
I hope you enjoy your time off. You two deserve it.
Linda746
Thanks for your kind words, Linda!
Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones.
Awesome. A very Merry Christmas to both of you. May God bless you with many blessings in the New Year.
Hi Bonnie – a very blessed and Merry Christmas to you and your family!
I appreciate all you do, I learned a great many ideas from you and Darcy. I hope you Darcy have a great Christmas and a busy New Year. Love your stories and ideas.
Bless the two of you.
Since you both will be taking time off for a few days I am taking a few minutes to rest here from cookie making etc. at almost midnight to tell you both what a blessing you have been all the years to myself and so many of us.
Have told many about how much you share and to have that given freely and in all honesty is a rare thing in this world today, so thank you.
Even here on MST it is midnight and have had some time to reflect and talk in gratefullness to my precious Savior and Lord with Kenny G on his Christmas album playing in the background as I was dipping cookies.:
I repeat old words of Tiny Tim -MAY GOD BLESS US ONE AND ALL!–
In His mercy may He hear us once again in our need. .
This was so beautiful and with all that is going on in this world, your essay came at the right time. Here in Quebec we only say Merry Christmas to those we know. Your essay brought me back in time when I used to go with my mom just to see those beautiful decorated windows and then off to Christmas mass on Christmas Eve. No gifts at Christmas or New Years but at least we saw the CHILD in the manger. Thanks for all you have done for me.
Wishing you and Darcy a beautiful Christmas with family and friends and a New Year filled with much needed warmth. I still so enjoy all your essays TC.
God Bless
Irene
Beautifully written and so timely in this world! Here in Australia there is no snow (except maybe on top of Mt. Wellington near Hobart, Tasmania) and we are running around in 30 – 40 deg. Celsius temps. People shop at daybreak to avoid the heat, the shops are still crowded during the day as the air conditioning is good to keep cool without adding to home expenses, and lots of folk plan cold Christmas Dinners! Seafood for those that can afford it; cold meats and salads with pavlova or ice cream pudding to follow. Farmers are on constant watch for bushfires and firemen are usually working all day. Such a contrast to the lovely snowy candle-lit scenes on the Christmas cards – we have to wait till 9 pm to take the kids to see the lights. Thanks for your essays/rants and for all the help you give so generously! May you and yours enjoy a wonderful snowy Christmas and a fulfilling New Year!!!!
Shared and very much appreciated. Thanks for the thoughtful prose and challenge. Merry Christmas to you both.