Are you looking forward to Christmas? 

Really?!! I’m intrigued to meet people who love Christmas! What is it about them? They usually enjoy being with family, giving presents and generally are focused on others, less than themselves, which is what makes them so nice to be around.

If I’m honest, I’ve not met many people like that.

I wish I were more like them! The reality is, not everyone has family around them, some can’t afford to give much and lots of people are so beset with worries and fears that it’s hard to think of others when you’re pre-occupied with your own needs!

If it’s true, and I believe it is, that the best gift you can ever give someone is yourself, then that is something we can all do!

But are we prepared to take that risk, what if they don’t want me? What if they reject me? It would surely hurt!

This is not a cop out from having to make the effort to choose and buy something for those we care about but make the giving of yourself the focus of your Christmas rather than gifts you can’t really afford! 

To give yourself, you have to really know you are loved for who you are, not because of what you can do or what you have and that for me is the heart of Christmas. 

Jesus did come, He gave Himself, because He loves us. He took the risk, feels the rejection, but keeps on giving Himself. How about you?

REV DAVID AUSTIN
Thameshead Benefice