A Heart of Understanding

"Mom! It is Christmas morning "is the delighted sound I awoke to.  "Yes, my child, it is." 


We do not jump right into the gifts.  The attempt being to establish with our children the truth that is Christmas.  We arise, eat our breakfast together, enjoy the smiles around the table then snuggle together on the couch to immerse our hearts in the story of a Father's great love.  Then in the stillness of a moment it hit me.  Not a child is eagerly asking to open their presents.  They are fully in the present, fully attentive to each other, fully listening to the story of the greatest gift ever given.  My heart swells within me.

With my husbands final Amen fading away I asked with quiet humor.  Who would like to give back those presents I see under the tree.  Andrew looks at me so directly. " I will, Mommy." he said.  "If it can make one child warmer, fuller, or happier.  If it could help someone else have a better Christmas."  I looked at him.  At his earnest little face, the eyes burning bright with love and kindness peering from their depths. And I see the truth shining forth from the heart of a child.
Oh Lord, you have showed him what I could never have. You have given him a heart of understanding.  Shown him that if he does for the least of these he does for you.  That the true gift of Christmas is not the receiving it is the giving.  And I thank you.  I thank you with tears on my cheeks and gladness in my heart.

And as they opened their presents I watched them enjoy the happiness of each other as much as the receiving of their own desires.  They pause with presents still under the tree to put Adam's gift together. Other winning out over self.   Love and laughter fill the air.  I cannot stop smiling.  And I thank Thee.

 Yet were it all to be taken away today I ask Thee to still have me remember your gift.  And what I truly have to be thankful for.  You are infinite yet my Father. Omnipotent yet sent your Son to die for me.  I am nothing and you are ALL. 


Matthew 25:31-40

 ³¹When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
 ³²And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
 ³³And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
 ³⁴Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
 ³⁵For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
 ³⁶Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
 ³⁷Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
 ³⁸When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
 ³⁹Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
 ⁴⁰And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.