John 14:27–Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you, not as the world gives, do I give you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful (RSV).
In mid-November, I received an Advent gift box from my parents. It contained lots of lovely presents that remind me of my family and Ontario. However, the most precious gift wasn’t in a fancy wrapper. It was just a piece of brown paper, with a few feathers glued to it, from my four-year-old niece, Lorisa. It is a turkey she made, with a little help from some friends, and sent to her Uncle Charles.
It reminds me, again, of why we celebrate Christmas. It isn’t about fancy dinners, marvelous decorations, or credit-card-driven presents. Christmas is about simple things, like homemade presents, time with family, friends and Jesus. When Jesus came to earth, there were no major celebrations, no parties, or glorious meals. There were just his mother, Mary, his earthly father, Joseph, some livestock, and God.
Jesus was born, lived and died, the same as all of us, but that is only part of the story. He also rose from the dead! Let’s enjoy this Christmas season with a heart full of the peace that comes from knowing that Christ has defeated death!
Prayer: Father God, thank you for your wonderful gift of Christmas peace, which is based on Easter’s resurrection. Amen
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