As I grew older the excitement of Christmas morning seemed to fade. I think it had to do with a strange phenomenon. The number of gifts I received went down as my age went up. I guess I have to admit that my excitement and enthusiasm was directly proportional to the number of gifts I received. I could not understand what was happening? It seemed as though I was not able to stop the inevitable. The way things were going, at a certain age, I was doomed to wake up Christmas morning and not get one single gift.
Years later as a husband to a wife who I consider to be a gift from God, and Father to two wonderful children, I found myself doing what was unthinkable as a child. I was giving more than I received. But the child in me kept crying out. "Where is the excitement?" "What happened to all my enthusiasm that I had for Christmas morning as a child?" Now don't get me wrong. Christmas morning is my most favorite time of the year. But the excitement and enthusiasm just wasn't there like it was when I was younger. Watching the excitement of my own children on Christmas morning helped me not to think about the excitement that was missing inside me. But still the questions were there in my mind. How can I get that excitement back again. I kept thinking that the joyous feeling I once had as a child was gone forever.
The years went by with no answer to my questions. Then one April day in 1976 a strange thing happened to me. Christmas morning came to dwell in me! His name is Jesus Christ. I couldn't believe it. That child like excitement and enthusiasm was back! It actually happened, and I didn't even receive a gift......or did I! As I realized later, that day in April, Jesus came bearing gifts.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Ephesians 2:8
For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Romans 14:17
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 1 Corinthians 6:19
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22,23
When Jesus came to dwell in me, so did the Holy Spirit. And with the Holy Spirit came eternal life, and all of these wonderful fruits (gifts), love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. Now it doesn't make any difference what morning it is. Each morning is like Christmas morning. Now does that mean I never get up in the morning feeling like the world is closing in on me? Of course not. What it does mean is this. It makes no difference what is going on in the world or in my life, because Jesus has already overcome this world for me. (John 16:33). I have God as my Father, Jesus Christ as my Savior, the Holy Ghost is dwelling in me, and all the ministering angels are all around me (Hebrews 1:14) . What a wonderful gift I have received. Nobody can take these gifts from me. If I need love, then I can stir up the gift of love that is in me. If I need joy, then I can stir up the gift of joy that is in me. The gifts are there every morning. They go with me all day. I truly can do all things through Christ which strengthens me (Phillippians 4:13). The Joy of the Lord is my strength (Nehemiah 8:10).
As Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:6, "Stir up the gift of God that is in you!" That child like excitement will come back again, like Christmas morning. The excitement and enthusiasm wondering what will happen when you "open" the gift of Love, or Joy or any of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Stir up the gift of Love with your spouse, children or friends. Stir up the gift of Joy. It will begin to spread to others, and your life will never be the same.
It's Christmas morning! I thank God through Jesus Christ my Lord! I am Born Again!
My Wife and I pray that you and your family have a wonderful and joyful Christmas morning, every day of the year!
Love in Christ,
Tony & Sherry