The Reason We Give

It has most definitely been a long and tiring, but fun-filled couple of weeks!  We celebrated a wonderful Christmas with my in-laws on Christmas Eve!  The kids opened more packages than they could imagine, and found some super fun toys!  Flower was excited to find more accessories for her American Girl Doll!  She received the full Chanuka set (She has Rebecca Rubin).  It was a great way for me to teach her about Chanuka, and Yahweh's provision in our lives.  We ended the night with a Candle Light Service at our church.  It was very special to have Barb Wire Man's parents there with us for that, as we worshiped, and thanked God for the wonderful gift of His son!


We awoke Christmas morning to find the ground covered with snow, and snow continuing to fall!!  The week before Christmas, the weather men had predicted a whopper of a blizzard, but we ended up with barely a dusting of snow.  They predicted only a dusting for Christmas day, but I told Barb Wire Man, "I betcha it snows like crazy!"  Boy was I right.


Santa brought my kids exactly what they had asked for!  Flower found a nice automatic .22 rifle behind the Christmas tree (but, Santa brought no bullets.  He was afraid she would find it while Mama and Daddy were in bed!).  Little Man found a Thomas the Tank Engine set and a Leap From Explorer.  (No one has heard much out of him since!)


We loaded up, and drove an hour to my parents house, but were a little concerned about the snow that was continuing to fall.  


My Aunt and Uncle were also at my parent's though my sister and her boyfriend were not able to be there, as they were visiting his family.  Flower received a brand spankin' new big girl guitar from Papa!  I have never seen her cry over a gift, but it was all she could do to hold back tears.  She was so incredibly happy.  My favorite gift was the tea maker and two bags of Teavana Tea from my mom!  We enjoyed smoked ribs, brisket, potato salad, baked beans, and rolls (Welcome to Christmas in Texas!)  Although we had planned to play games all night long, we had to leave early.  It snowed the entire day, and the roads were beginning to get a little on the nasty side.  All in all, it was a wonderful Christmas. 


But, I was reminded of a very important lesson.  Flower has been a little, well, naughty lately.  I'm talking, I'm about ready to pull my hair out due to her lack of respect for me as her mother.  We had told her the same lines parents have used forever - "Santa knows if you've been good or bad, and if you don't straighten up, you will get a lump of coal" and, "If you don't behave, I'm taking every one of those gifts back to the store."  


Then I remembered what Christmas is about.  Its about God giving us the gift of His son, Jesus.  We give other's presents as a representation of that amazing gift.  Had God used the same logic I was using with Flower, we never would have been given Jesus.  We most certainly did nothing to deserve Him.  Our behavior as humans did not warrant such an amazing gift.  No, we were given Jesus simply because God loves us.  He wants us to accept Him into our lives, so that we can be reconciled to Him again.  As a parent, I am supposed to reflect God's love to my children.  Do they deserve all the gifts I give them?  Nope.  Do I give them because I love my children?  Yes.  


I explained this to Flower.  I told her that was the reason she was getting presents was not because of good behavior.  It was because I love her, regardless of her behavior, just like God loves us even though we don't always obey Him.  And would you believe, she has been behaving much, much better?


Thank you, God, for sending your son to us who do not deserve Him.


Be blessed today!