Browsing antique malls and flea markets is one of our family’s favorite pastimes. We love seeing stuff we played with as kids and marveling at the prices attached to them. There is almost always something that strikes our fancy (a pretty teacup) or tempts us (model train paraphernalia) to add to the accumulation of “stuff” we like but don’t really need. (We stoically resist these urges—well, most of the time!)
This Christmas our son’s family will be getting some vintage items they mentioned it would be fun to own. They love old things (even our 16-year-old granddaughter) so I think they will be thrilled with these gifts—at least I hope so!
In contrast, Dick’s Gram Whitsel always bought necessities for gifts at Christmas—socks, underwear, new bed pillows, etc. Ever practical, she figured everyone could use these items, so just stick to the basics.
There is an old, old gift that God offers to each one of us. It’s a gift He hopes will thrill us. It’s also a gift we all need. Romans 6:23 says, because of our sin, we deserve death. But the gift that God freely gives is everlasting life found in Christ Jesus our Lord.
A mother asked Billy Graham how she could better explain to her son why we have Christmas. Rev. Graham replied, “This Christmas, you will give your son many gifts. You will have done everything possible to give them to him—choosing them, paying for them, wrapping them and offering them to him. But they won’t really be his until he takes them and makes them his own. The same is true with Jesus Christ. God has done everything possible to give us the gift of salvation, but we must accept it by reaching out and inviting Him to come into our lives.”
This Christmas we can receive AND give the greatest gift of all! It’s a vintage gift but also a vital one. If you have never done so, accept God’s Christmas gift to you by asking Jesus into your life, the One who died so we could be forgiven for all the wrongs we have done. Then, share this great Gift with someone else!
Be encouraged!
