NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--When we think of Christmas one of the words that naturally comes to mind is the word "gifts." People will frequently ask one another, "What gifts are you hoping to get for Christmas?" The giving and receiving of gifts is a wonderful part of the Christmas season. No doubt it reflects the presentation of the gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh to the Christ child.

I have many wonderful memories of Christmas gifts I received as a child. My dad bought me a new football uniform virtually every year. Little wonder that I ended up playing football through college. On one occasion my brother rode his bike to retrieve a gift for me from the neighbor who lived about a mile away. On the way home, he dropped the present, breaking the contents (a toy truck) into small pieces. He was so concerned that he had broken my present that he sat down with me at the kitchen table and tried to help me reassemble the broken toy. If you understand anything about sibling rivalry, you will understand that my brother's gift of concern and time meant more than a toy that would soon be forgotten.

Gifts became a more meaningful part of Christmas when I was old enough to purchase gifts for other family members. My mom worked at Cato's store on Main Street of Morganton, N.C. Dad let me do my own shopping which may seem strange to our modern day sensibilities, but it was perfectly safe to let a small boy go shopping in our small town.

I can't remember all the gifts that I purchased that year, but a few stand out in my mind. I bought my brother a roll of film for his new camera. I remember this particular gift because when asked about what size of film I needed, I responded by telling how large my brother was. Somehow, I ended up with the correct film. I bought my mom some little ceramic figurines -- they were bears playing instruments that looked like flowers. I thought they were incredibly beautiful. But the real reason behind the purchase was that I had broken some of mom's decorative items by my careless play and felt this would help replace them. I honestly can't remember any of the gifts I received that year because I could hardly wait to see the expression when each family member opened the gift from me. I had learned the joy of giving.

THE GREATEST GIFT

It is easy for us to get so caught up in all the trappings of Christmas that we forget the gift that began it all. The sovereign God of the universe sent the One who was and is King to earth to sacrifice His life for the redemption of sinful man. Listen to the majesty and simplicity of the story of the greatest gift ever given.