What do you want for Christmas?

As the cycle of the year leads us from autumn into the final holidays, we get asked that question…

what do you want for Christmas?

Adults ask children…

hoping to satisfy the longing of their hearts for the latest toy…

or to make conversation with a tot…

or to prompt their letter to Santa…

Adults ask adults to help streamline their shopping efforts…

or to assure that the recipient is pleased with the gift under the tree.

For the child this opens wide the door of possibility…

whatever I want…

I can get…

at no cost to anyone…

for there is a man who makes these things

and I can direct him to bring me exactly what I want.

For the grown up the question can stir inner longings…

what we want for Christmas may not come in a package.

What we want is most likely going to be an answer to the cry of our hearts…

or a healing whether physical or spiritual or emotional…

a deliverance…

a provision..

for us…

or for someone else.

If it is a tangible gift that we would like to receive, chances are good that deep down we would like the giver to know and not have to ask.

Because buried within us…

wired into our DNA…

whether young or old…

is the desire to be truly known and understood.

To not have to articulate that thing that our heart desires.

In fairness to we humans who are expressing our love for one another through the giving of gifts…

we hope that our efforts will delight the ones we love.

We will stand in lines and search the websites to find the thing that is wanted.

But only One knows…truly knows…the perfect gift.

He doesn’t ask what we “want” for Christmas…

He has already given us exactly what we need

God bless you as you lift your hearts to Him who alone knows the depths…

of your wants and your needs.

May He…

who created us and formed us…

fill us up this season…

with His love…

that we might overflow to all whose lives we touch each day     <3