I love giving things to other people.
I know how cliche that sounds: people always say that it's better to give than to receive, but how often do most of us actually feel that way? I don't think I know anyone who doesn't get excited about opening the gifts other people have gotten them, for Christmas or their birthday. We are definitely a "gimme" society, always wanting things for ourselves from others. But, at the same time, I know how great it feels to find the perfect gift for someone. Getting them exactly what they want. Watching someone open a gift that you know they are going to love does give me a very warm feeling on the inside.
I was thinking about this because of the Easter holiday that is this weekend. Most people think of Christmas, or even Thanksgiving, when thinking about holidays that are about giving. Christmas has a huge emphasis on showing love through the giving of gifts. Even Thanksgiving, although it involves minimal gift giving, is still a holiday that is all about being thankful for everything you have and have been given. Hardly anyone thinks of Easter as being about giving,* and that just doesn't seem right to me.
Easter weekend is completely and entirely about Jesus Christ giving his life so that we wouldn't be punished for our sins. How is that not the ultimate example of giving? And, I mean, he knew that we would love it, that it was exactly what we needed, even if we didn't know we needed it. Maybe it seems extravagant for someone to die for people who would live two thousand years later. And yea, maybe it was extravagant. But who says that the extravagant gifts are any better or worse than the simple gifts? And somehow, His gift seems to be as simple as it is extravagant.
I guess what I'm trying to say is, think of the best gift you've ever given someone, and the remember how great it felt when they opened it and loved it as much or more than you thought they would. Then multiply that feeling by about a million, and that's how great Jesus feels when we "open" this gift that He has given us.
This is the day the Lord has made,
let us rejoice and be glad in Him!
Days until summer: 12
Exams until summer: 4
Days until camp: 50
*Except the giving of chocolate. No one every forgets about the chocolate.
I was thinking about this because of the Easter holiday that is this weekend. Most people think of Christmas, or even Thanksgiving, when thinking about holidays that are about giving. Christmas has a huge emphasis on showing love through the giving of gifts. Even Thanksgiving, although it involves minimal gift giving, is still a holiday that is all about being thankful for everything you have and have been given. Hardly anyone thinks of Easter as being about giving,* and that just doesn't seem right to me.
Easter weekend is completely and entirely about Jesus Christ giving his life so that we wouldn't be punished for our sins. How is that not the ultimate example of giving? And, I mean, he knew that we would love it, that it was exactly what we needed, even if we didn't know we needed it. Maybe it seems extravagant for someone to die for people who would live two thousand years later. And yea, maybe it was extravagant. But who says that the extravagant gifts are any better or worse than the simple gifts? And somehow, His gift seems to be as simple as it is extravagant.
I guess what I'm trying to say is, think of the best gift you've ever given someone, and the remember how great it felt when they opened it and loved it as much or more than you thought they would. Then multiply that feeling by about a million, and that's how great Jesus feels when we "open" this gift that He has given us.
This is the day the Lord has made,
let us rejoice and be glad in Him!
Days until summer: 12
Exams until summer: 4
Days until camp: 50
*Except the giving of chocolate. No one every forgets about the chocolate.
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