The greatest gift is easily found

Focus on materialism hides the true spirit of giving

By KRISTY-LEA WESTGEEST
Special to the WCR
Calahoo

Then you probably sympathize with the lady on the current Christmas commercial who goes through a whole list of things she needs to get accomplished before her company arrives.

As the doorbell rings she proclaims that she doesn't think she has forgotten one thing. As she turns to answer the door only then do we see that she is not wearing her skirt.

Materialism, greed and selfishness have made it harder for the ones who still honour the true meaning of Christmas to keep the light aflame. Through materialism the meaning of the celebration of Christmas and the giving of gifts has been lost.

Giving gifts has become all about how much it costs and whether it's better than everyone else's. There is no real meaning behind the giving of gifts because the love and kindness are gone. "For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be" (Matthew 6: 21).

Billboards and advertisements proclaim Merry Xmas. Christians want to keep Christ in Christmas by keeping the real meaning of Christmas alive.

One way we can do this is by giving a hand-made gift instead of a purchased one. My favourite gifts both to give and receive have been the hand-made ones. Through this gesture of taking time to make something with your own hands you show the love you have for the receiver.

The gifts Jesus received from the wise men were not given to impress anyone, but to show their love for the child. They were given freely, not out of obligation but out of love, without the expectation of anything in return for their kindness. We should follow this wonderfully humble example.

It's not the gifts. It's not the tree. It's not all about me. It's about the Saviour of the world, born to us on Christmas Day as a servant. This jubilee let us be servants. Let us teach each other about the real meaning of Christmas, which is Christ, the ultimate Christmas gift.

A good way to do this is by remembering the song Twelve Days of Christmas. Through this song Christians who were being persecuted remembered what they believed in. The true meaning behind this song follows to help you start your Christmas season right. Let us remember it and remember the real meaning behind Christmas, Christ, the greatest gift of all.

• True love - God.
• Partridge in a pear tree - Jesus Christ.
• Two turtle doves - the Old and New Testaments.
• Three French hens - Faith, hope and charity.
• Four calling birds - the four Gospels.
• Five golden rings - the first five books of the Old Testament.
• Six geese a-laying - the six days of creation.
• Seven swans a-swimming - seven gifts of the Holy Spirit.
• Eight maids a-milking - the eight Beatitudes.
• Nine ladies dancing - nine choirs of angels.
• Ten lords a-leaping - the Ten Commandments.
• Eleven pipers piping - the 11 faithful Apostles.
• Twelve drummers drumming - the 12 points of belief in the Apostles Creed.

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