The Greatest Gifts
by Randy Robison
Week of December 12, 2004
This will be the third Christmas without my mother-in-law. My wife, our four children and I used to live in Tulsa, Oklahoma, just a few miles from my wife's mother and stepfather. Mary Lou was the glue that held my wife's family together.
She always cooked entirely too much food, which gave her an excuse to invite everyone over -- family, friends, friends of friends with no place to go on Christmas. Her house was always loud, with so many children running around having fun, and crowded with gifts, crafts, and games. I confess that there were years when I complained about having to spend an entire day with the in-laws, but my children always enjoyed it and the food was always good.
We moved back to Texas in August of 2002 so that I could work at Life Outreach. At the time, we knew that Mary Lou was sick, but we didn't fully realize how bad it was. She spent Christmas that year at a cancer treatment center in Arizona. The next February, she passed away.
Christmas is still an exciting time at our house, but it is not the same.
There are others who are not here to celebrate Christmas with us. Some have moved away, others have passed away. Though I have no regrets about the time spent with family and friends, I do wish that I had been more gracious at times. My older children will always remember Christmas at "Nana's" house, but I'm not sure how much my younger two will remember her. I know that my wife and her siblings still feel the loss, especially during the holidays.
As we gather together this year, we will open gifts, prepare big meals, watch movies together, and participate in other recreational activities. But more than anything, we will enjoy each other's company as we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Time is short. Life is fragile. Yet, we are tremendously blessed.
This time of year can be stressful for so many people. When families get together, they bring baggage. Hectic schedules can test our nerves. Financial pressure can rob us of the joys of giving. But if we can move beyond the hassles, we can make this season a time of joy.
My hope and prayer is that the “joy to the world” we sing about will become a reality within my own household. I want my children to enjoy the people in their lives as much as the toys. And I will try to remember that the greatest gifts are not the packages under the tree, but the people around us.
This Week
Start preparing for a Christmas free from the commercial pressures of this world and focus on the relationships that truly make the season special.
Prayer
“Lord, thank you for sending us your Son. Help us to focus on the real gifts this season: your love and the love of those around us."
