Christmas is for Giving
Kroger or Aldi strives to be heath conscious for their customers. Heathy options abound in each aisle. What started out a few years ago with a small organic, no GMO section has turned into a marketing strategy that serves a growing population of wise shoppers who want to live longer and be sensitive to the earth’s ecosystem. However, there is one product that recently got me to thinking about its purpose and name when the company removed one ingredient.
I’m talking about the new and improved saltine cracker. Now you can choose between the Salted or Unsalted Saltine Cracker. (Maybe this type of cracker been around forever, but not in my observable universe.) Does it make sense for a person to ask to pass the unsalted saltines when there is not salt on them? Shouldn’t we say, “Pass the ‘tines’ please.” Now I’ve tasted a handful of those unsalted saltines and let me tell you they taste like “blasé-tines.”
Something is missing! The salt gives the cracker favor. Yes, there may be a sprinkle of unhealthiness on top, but shouldn’t a saltine be a saltine.
Christmas is for giving. What would it look and feel like if we took “giving” out of Christmas? Strange. Bland. Unsalted. Giving does not need to be in the form of material things or expensive presents. Our society has trumpeted the importance of commerce as a way to give. If we were to deconstruct the true meaning of giving, we would find a few important elements. Love is the first. The gift of love connects one heart with another. Love is patient. Love is kind. Love is not self-seeking or easily angered. Love’s embrace is a great way to give. Second is forgiving. The gift of forgiving whether you are a seeking or extending opens the heart to give oneself an opportunity for a fresh start. Jesus said, “Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage (Mattew 5:13, MSG).”
Christ came to give love and forgiveness. The Baby Jesus first breath in our world marked the beginning of a fresh start for humanity. The star sprinkled night sky ushered in a new way to be seen, heard, known, and loved. God gave us a gift. No more darkness. No more feeling like a stranger. No more feeling bland and unloved. Christ’s Bright and Morning Star showed the way of giving.
In Charlie Brown Christmas, Charlie shouts, “Does anyone know what Christmas is all about?” Linus says he does and walks to the middle of the stage and recites Luke 2:11-14.
Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”