December 7 Home Communicator – Christmas gifts were a pretty big deal in my house as a kid. I grew up in a time before the internet, of course, so my siblings and I pored over the catalogs that came in the mail and folded over page corners to mark the things we were hoping to get for Christmas. Our family struggled financially, so gifts and extras were few and far between. We knew we’d probably only get one gift at Christmas, so we chose carefully. I have strong memories of the gifts I received from my parents over the years because they were so cherished….Baby Alive, the Big Mouth Singers (Google it), an Easy Bake Oven, a pink plastic shopping cart with fake groceries, and even a ventriloquist doll from when I was 10 years old and thought that might be my life’s calling (it wasn’t).
Over time, though, my thoughts about Christmas gifts have shifted. Sure, it’s fun to get presents, but as I’ve gotten older, my focus has turned more towards the gift of Jesus at this time of the year. God sent us His Son for Christmas! Jesus. A baby that would grow up to be a man who would give up His life in the most inconceivable way–as a sacrifice to save a multitude of sinners and bless us with the hope and joy of eternal life. This is a gift to be cherished!
When we recognize the enormity of the gift of Jesus, we worship Him in adoration and gratefulness. Our hearts overflow with a desire to help others and share the gift of Jesus with them. The opportunities to worship and give are plentiful at Hudsonville Christian. Students sing praises together in chapel and in their classrooms and are immersed in the Christmas story and reminded over and over of God’s great love for them. Elementary students were able to share in the joy of giving at the Love Bazaar last week and 3 Schoolers to 8th graders are collecting money and items for organizations that help spread the love of Jesus to others. What a joy it is to be able to serve others and participate in worshiping our sovereign God together!
Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
2 Corinthians 9:15 (NIV)
Serving Him together, Tricia Kiepert, Elementary Principal
