Christmas time is always a good and fun time but the one area of Christmas that I struggle with has to be, hands down, gifts and buying them. It is not that I am not good at it. No, the reason is I hate doing it. I love watching people open the gifts I buy or someone else has and the look on their face is usually priceless. I just do not like going to the store, struggle to find a parking spot that does not require you be in marathon runner condition to make it from the car to the front door only to have to go on a scavenger hunt just to get a cart and the crowds you have to navigate through to get to the items you wish to purchase is completely another story.

And shopping for the gift isn’t the only part that is difficult. What do you get for gifts? You know, you buy for the wife, kids, grandkids, nieces, nephews, neighbors and friends! The list just keeps going on and on and on… Oh, and how much should we spend on each person’s gift? When it comes to picking gifts for others, my creativeness is somewhat challenged. My idea of a gift is what denomination will it be…and I don’t mean religion. Ten, twenty or fifty dollars? It would be more creative to look and shop all year long but I just don’t think about it. I usually end up waiting until the last minute and go to the bank and get the cash.

Cash is easy wrap too. I don’t have to buy wrapping paper or tape. I don’t have to figure out how to wrap the gift. If I do have a gift to wrap, gift bags are the answer. Instead of all that wrapping paper, tape and mess, I just get gift envelopes from the bank or put the money in a card, sign the card and seal it up…boom! Mission accomplished.

Now, if you are going to shop for me, I think I’m pretty easy to shop for. Power tools are always at the top of my list as well as books (by Joel Rosenberg or Max Lucado). And, cash is always good as it allows me to buy the latest power tool or book I am looking for. Oh, and coffee is an item you can never go wrong with.

One shopping I do like at Christmas is for Christmas parties. The one’s where you get the gag gift or an inexpensive gift for a Dirty Santa exchange. Then there is the gift you look for at the house and re-gift. Gift card exchanges are easy as well. Go to Walmart, find the display of every gift card known to man and pick one out. Grab a gift bag, drop in the gift card and you are good to go.

Some interesting gifts I have received over the years still linger in my mind. There has been a shop vacuum from my mom. It was really awesome and lasted almost 15 years before it finally quit. Neck ties were popular for a time. I have a closet of about 150 neck ties for any (and I do mean any) occasion. Aftershave, socks, sweaters, t-shirts and even underwear have been wrapped, placed under the tree and waited for my opening of the gift. Shoes, shirts, pajamas and slippers have made appearances at Christmastime.

I have received power tools, mechanics tools and even a pink tool pouch to go on a tool belt (never used that one). I even received a Covid-19 survival kit one year complete with a roll of toilet paper (best gift ever)!

Sometimes I even get gifts that I have to return. The jeans were the wrong size. The shirt was the wrong color. Already had a neck tie that color or design or maybe a duplicate of something else. Returns are always fun as you have no receipt and have to wait in a line that seems to only go halfway around the world.

All of the gift buying, wrapping, giving and receiving and opening made me do some thinking about the gifts of Christmas. I guess it comes from the Wise Men bringing Jesus the gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. But I think it was the gift of God of Jesus to the world. You see this gift did not require going to the mall or department store, driving endlessly in the parking lot looking for a place to park or fighting the crowds to get that perfect gift.

Even the wrapping was perfect. Jesus was wrapped in swaddling clothes and put in a manger. There was no fancy wrapping or gift bag needed. The simple was the best, less is more.

But the thing I like the most of about God’s gift to us is it was the perfect gift. The right size, color, amount and was so practical, giving us exactly what me need… forgiveness, mercy, love.

God had the perfect gift for us. He sent His only Son so we would not have to be separated from Him. But the gift is only a gift if we will take it. The Bible says that “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.” The gift is yours for the taking given by God Himself. No stress, worries, deadlines or cost. It is a gift given by God to you.

This is the best kind of gift. Will you take it this Christmas?

Merry Christmas Bro. Tim