I read the story of a postal worker whose wife died in a traffic accident a few months before Christmas. He was overcome with grief, especially during the Christmas season, and tried to stay busy at work sorting through the stacks of mail that inevitably come through the post office this time of year. On a particular day he was in charge of letters inadequately addressed. In his stack of mail, he discovered a card to Santa Claus, North Pole, and it had his return address on the envelope. Opening the letter, he discovered that it was from his little daughter. She had written:

“Dear Santa, We’re very sad at our house this year. My Mommy died two months ago, and since then my Daddy has been crying himself to sleep every night. You needn’t leave me anything, but if you could give Daddy something to make him stop crying? I wish you would. I heard him say that only eternity will heal him. Could you send him some of that this year?”

Think of how it touched that father to see what love his little girl showed for him!

The first Christmas began over 2,000 years ago because God loved you and me. “For God so loved … that He gave …”(John 3:16). He gave us the most incredible gift of His love – His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible says, “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (I John 4:9-10).

Jesus said that the greatest commandment in all the world is this, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind” (Matthew 22:37). The greatest gift that you and I can present to Jesus is love… our bodies and lives, cleansed and obedient to His way and His Word. Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15).

What kind of birthday will Jesus have at your house this year? Will He be the center of your thoughts…your plans…your gifts…your love? I wonder, what will you give Jesus for His birthday this Christmas? What kind of gift would really delight His heart?

“What can I give Him, as poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I’d give Him a lamb. If I were a wise man, I’d do my part. What can I give Him? I’ll give Him my heart!”