What can I give him?

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3: 16

This Christmas I have heard many people bemoan the fact that they do not know what to get someone for a Christmas present. Worse still is not knowing what to say when someone asks what we would like!

Our loving God has everything because he created it all so what can we possibly give the God who has everything? For some this question might have been as the carol says, ‘What can I give him, poor as I am?’ For others we might say, ‘What can I give him, comfortable as I am?’ This question has been asked every Christmas as we focus on the wonderful gift that God gave us and that is where the answer lies. He gave us himself – God in a tiny baby. Emmanuel – God with us.  So what do we give the God who has everything – we do what he did and give ourselves; that is all God wants and it is the best gift. In our busy lives, God wants us.

However giving of ourselves is what people also desire – more than gifts and nice food – they want us; our love, friendship, time, support, encouragement. There are so many lonely, discouraged, disappointed, hopeless people and what they want is people who care, people who will stand with them, people to encourage them. We can’t do it for everyone but we can do it for someone.

Maybe you are already giving something other than presents today – perhaps serving a Christmas meal to people on their own, taking food to the homeless – have a wonderful Christmas. If you are with family and friends – have a blessed Christmas – but don’t pass up the opportunity to give of yourself today. Especially if there is something that needs to be put right, a phone call that needs to be made, an e mail that needs to be sent, an apology that needs to be made – please do it

This Christmas I expect most of us will give and receive many gifts and I am sure we will also focus on ‘the reason for the season’ but let us also look for an opportunity to give of ourselves to someone who may need an encouraging word, a hug, a smile, some appreciation.

Be blessed this Christmas