The Season of Gifts

It always amazes me that summer seems endless when you are truly enjoying it, and then all of a sudden we are at the end of the year!

October bring all Hallow's eve and the gift of Saints. The personalities and their lives are varied but the one common thread is that they reach high above the earth and bring courage, love, humility and a reign of new miracles that complement the miracle of life we take for granted too often. Their example points us above and shows us what we are truly capable of - what a beautiful gift.

Then before you know it we come to the American holiday of Thanksgiving. This holiday is all about being thankful for the gifts we have. Those gifts may include family, friends, a loving spouse, children, health, food, material goods, a job, intrinsic gifts we have, or a faith that is so strong that even if we don't have the normal blessings listed - we know His providence still will shine the choicest blessing on us. What a gift to reflect on how much there is to be thankful for. It is such a blessing to do this that we should aim to do it daily. For everyday has gifts galore and in the most unexpected ways.

Then comes my favorite month, December. It is a glorious excuse to shower the people you love, the people that need love and everyone that comes your way that month with all kinds of gifts unique to the season. Extra kindness, patience, smiles, embraces, kind words, cards, gifts you buy and gifts you make. It is the season of gifts commemorating the greatest gift we have ever received. That our creator, our God, came to us in the form of a human, a man, and showed us how to love. Yes he redeemed us with his sacrifice and example, but he also redeemed us by showing us that love can be terrifyingly beautiful beyond what we could have imagined. The cross shows us how beautiful Love is and what men are called to. It is ironic that what seems like self sacrifice and denial is exactly what fulfills and lifts a man to a higher station. The gifts literal and symbolic this month are the most beautiful gifts of all.

May we all embrace the fall and winter seasons and the gifts that can transform us as we head into the new year. May we embrace the the season of gifts.