Steve (Age 7): "Ricky?" 

Ricky (Age 5): "Huh?"

Steve (Still 7): "You asleep?"

Ricky (Still 5): "No... are you?"

Okay, so my brother and I were no rocket scientists at ages 5 & 7, but we were typical boys trying to go to sleep on the night before Christmas. Santa Claus, we were assured, would not come if we were still awake. Do you remember the magic and excitement... when you were a child at Christmas?

I still remember my best Christmas ever. I was about 8 years old and when Steve and I ran to the family room to "see what Santa had brung". I could not believe my eyes: There it was by the tree... a brand new Stingray bike with banana seat, chopper-style handle bars, and a cheater bar for popping wheelies. It was green!

I could die a happy man!

And I nearly did, at least a thousand times through the years, as I rode that Stingray up and down tall mountains, across raging rivers, and over ramps that would have caused the most fearless daredevil to tremble.

I can scarcely imagine how different life would have been if I had not taken and used that bike that my parents had sacrificed so much to get for me to enjoy. I cannot imagine just shoving that gift aside, or not opening and using the countless other gifts that they gave through the years. I was a just a child, but even kids instinctively know that gifts are to be opened with anticipation, to be received with thanksgiving, and to be used with gratitude.

I hope that your Christmas is a special one this year. If you are surrounded by loved ones, it will be. It is a gift of God, I am convinced, to be able to enjoy our families and friends in an atmosphere of peace and love and good will. But, if you have been lacking these blessings, could it be that you have forgotten to open your gifts?

If we lack peace and love and good will in our lives, then maybe it's time to take a second peek under that tree, for these are gifts that God has given all of His children. The Father and the Son have sacrificed much to provide these gifts for us. Why not then approach these gifts with anticipation, receive them with thanksgiving, and use them each day with gratitude in our hearts. 

I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas this year. You will, if you can just remember to open your gifts!

But the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord...

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father...

For God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son...

Romans 6:23, James 1:17, John 3:16, NIV