Child of God: In this season in which we celebrate the Gift you gave us, we have decided we want to give you a present. So, what do you want for Christmas?
Father God: How kind of you. Do you think there is something I need?
Child: Well… I guess not. You have everything and all power is yours. We admit that all we have is from you, but surely there is something that would make your heart glad… glad like a child on Christmas morning.
Father: Hmmm… It is true that everything good comes from above… so what would I like to receive back from my children? Is this what you’re asking?
Child: Yes, Lord. What can we give you for Christmas?
Father: OK. Here’s my answer: ‘Love.’
Child: Love? We love you, Lord. We worship you, Lord. We praise you for saving us and for giving your Son to die for us. We know that you first loved us, so ‘yes, we will love you… with all of our heart and soul and mind and strength!’ But how can this be more than us simply telling you? We want to give you a gift that makes you smile.
Father: I always smile when I see my children pass my love to others. ‘Look how my children love one another’… this makes me smile. ‘Look how that husband loves his wife; look how that wife loves her husband; look how those parents love their children; look how those children love their parents’… these are the things that make me smile.
Child: Well, we surely can do that. I admit though, I sometimes have a hard time loving.
Father: Get rid of self, my child, and let me fill your heart. You, my children, are the ones I’m trusting to show who I am. And you know that ‘I am love.’ What can you do for the orphan and the widow? How do you love the homeless and the poor? How do you help the lost soul struggling with addiction and shame? How do you love your brothers and sisters facing persecution in other lands? When my children kneel down to lift up one whom I created in my image, I rejoice. This is the gift that keeps on giving. And when you pass my love to others, they will share it too.
Child: I don’t think we’ll be able to do this without your help. You’re talking about the way we live.
Father: You’re right! Christ in you… your hope of glory… and your secret for loving.
“May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else…” I Thess 3:11
“Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. And, in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more.” I Thess 4:9-10
Merry Christmas!