Christmas is just 3 days away, and this year, due to tough economic times we cut way back on our Christmas gift giving. It was tough, because we so easily commercialize the season. I have been guilty of that. As I think about the gifts of Christmases past, and I think of how creative I had to be this year, I realize that this struggle, this challenge has brought me back to just what Christmas is, and Who it is about. It has also made me really reflect on the beautiful friends I have in Uganda who most likely will not be able to exchange gifts, and will certainly not indulge in the feasts we are accustomed to here. Yet I have received numerous e-mails from those dear friends sending gifts of the heart, words of joy and encouragement as they focus on Christ. I think of their lack of resources, their small, mostly inadequate homes (by American standards), the fact that alot of children there walk around with no shoes and ragged ill-sized clothes. I think of the days and days of bananas and rice, of meal and dirty water. I then reflect on the birth of Christ. He was born into a poor family. He was born in a stable. He is God and could easily have arranged His birth in a palace but He didn't. He came in the humblest of circumstances, born into a lowly family, grew up the son of a carpenter. He didn't own a home of His own. When He died, He was buried in a borrowed grave. How easily we make life about money, about things, about position and prestige. How easily we look down on the less fortunate, the broken.....the least of these. I want to close this blog post with a quote which is part of an e-mail I received from one of my dear Ugandan friends this week. It brings my heart back to Who we celebrate, and why...."Praise be to God from whom all blessings flow. I am so happy to e-mail you as we are approaching the day when we remember the birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ. It is my prayer that as we celebrate His birth, we may continue in His grace and also continue to tell other people about Him so that He may be born in their lives too. It's better to celebrate when you are sure of your life with Jesus Christ, the Savior....may you have peace in the Lord, May you be blessed, may you live for Him alone as we celebrate His birth. Amen". (quote from Seereuyunge, Fred)....BLESSED CHRISTMAS TO YOU!
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