Grace With a Taste of CinnamonSample

When Love Takes the Form of a Gift

God showed us that true love always gives and that is exactly why Christmas starts with a gift.

Almost every year, among certain circles of Christians, one can hear that modern Christmas has lost its meaning due to the buying and exchanging of gifts. But, in fact, giving is not a distortion of Christmas, but its deeper meaning.

God is the first Giver. His love did not stay abstract – it “became flesh” and came to this world in the form of a Child in a manger. All that we have – breath, relationships, comfort – is a gift of God’s generosity. When we give to others, we are not distracted from the main thing; we take part in God’s character.

Surely, there is a danger of turning this holiday into a Vanity Fair, but there is no reason to reject giving gifts. On the contrary, we can reconsider every gift as a reminder – love is always an action, a particular gesture, a dedication of the heart.

So this year, let your gifts smell not only of cinnamon, but also of grace – as a response to God’s love that was first to reach out to us.

Steps of Love

Let these few steps of love be your encouragement for the day:

• Think of someone you can give something not out of obligation, but out of love.
• Make a little gift with your own hands – it's always more about the soul than about the price.
• Make a list of God’s gifts in your life and share it with someone as a statement of gratitude.