Open your heart and receive the gift of Jesus
"Everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."
- Acts 10:43 (TLB)
Christmas is a time when we reach a little deeper into our pockets and our hearts for others.
Some of our gifts are labors of love, such as when we extend homemade cookies, candies or fudge, or when we invite someone to share a meal of turkey, ham, potatoes and pies.
Some of our gifts are heartfelt greetings we express by sending colorful cards with Christmas sentiments to family and friends.
Men in love give their sweethearts keepsakes of diamonds on bands of sterling silver or shiny gold to show the intentions of their hearts.
Children even get into the act by emptying their piggy banks of precious nickels, dimes and pennies to buy a gift for their parents or grandparents they adore.
But when the day of celebration arrives, we get to enjoy the opposite side of giving, which is receiving.
Oh, the joy of Christmas morning when we awake with anticipation long before the alarm goes off. Man, woman and child are excited to open the gifts waiting under the tree.
However, there's nothing like watching an excited child open their gifts. They don't care about carefully taking off ribbons and bows. They aren't impressed with festive paper. They just open and shout with joy when they receive the gift they've been longing for.
On the first Christmas morning, there were shouts of joy as well. God's gift of a Savior for our sins was finally available to everyone who would believe in Jesus' sacrifice and receive it. Men and women had been longing for this gift of salvation for a long time, and God finally satisfied their desire.
We can still receive God's greatest gift today. It doesn't matter how great our sin, we can receive the joy of forgiveness. All we have to do is open our hearts and enjoy the blessing of receiving.
• Annettee Budzban is a Christian author, speaker, life coach and nurse. Give a gift of Inspiration. Contact Annettee for information on her new book, "Dream Big!" at Annetteebudzban@aol.com or (847) 543-8413. She is available to speak to your group or event.