I have to say I love Christmas - I love the lights, the trees, the gift giving, the cards, the songs, the way everyone is nice to each other and most of all I love the Christmas story.
This year I got some great gifts - Two pairs of Havaiana's (one with bling - thanks Phill & K), Greys Anatomy & Entourage DVD's, jewellry, make up, manicure stuff, awesome bowls for my kitchen, the works. But my two favourite gifts came from friends who chose to make someone elses life better on my behalf. The kids from LiveWires (and my good friend Ann) the kids drop in centre I worked at last year and for the first six months of this year, educated a child for me through TEAR, and my friend from church Wato bought me a chicken through JustSalvos. We have so much "Stuff" in our lives, don't we? This year, I know that two of my friends have ensured that my gift has changed the lives of children and villages.
Isn't that what the Christmas story is about? That God, who created us, loved us so much that He sent His Son to the world to bring love and peace and goodwill. But somewhere along the lines, we've missed the point. We've made Christmas about us, about what we can get and what gifts we can give. And there is nothing wrong with giving gifts - in fact, coming a close second to Physical Touch, Gifts are my love language. I love to give my friends presents, even more than getting gifts. In fact, I loved that at my parents church (South Barwon Salvos) there was so much love among the church family as they gave each other gifts and shared the spirit of Christmas... And because I love gifts, I began to wonder, what gift could I give Jesus - I mean it was His birthday after all.
One of my favourite Christmas Carols (aside from Oh Holy Night, which will make me cry every time), is "In the Bleak Midwinter", in particular the verse:
What can I give him,
Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd
I would bring a lamb,
If I were a wise man
I would do my part,
Yet what I can I give Him —
Give my heart.
So this year, I want to give Christ the gift of all of me - not just at work, not just in my prayer time, but all year round... My whole heart, not just the lonely parts, the lot.
What can you give Him?
About Me
- Sarah Eldridge
- As the daughter of Salvation Army officers, Sarah Eldridge has been connected to social care ministries all of her life. Her earliest memories are of visiting youth refuges at Crossroads and hanging out with the street kids there. For 12 years she worshiped at Brunswick Salvation Army where she learnt about the daily struggles of homeless young people and others who do not share the benefits other Australian’s take for granted. Sarah moved away from The Salvation Army during 2006 - 2007 and worked for Concern Australia in Melbourne overseeing the Steps Outreach Service, ministering to homeless young people; and Livewires, a Children’s After School Drop-In Centre in the Collingwood Housing Estate. Sarah established a ministry to under-age prostitutes as part of Steps, and is passionate about seeing the lives of young people, particularly young women, transformed by God. Sarah is currently a Cadet in The Salvation Army's Training College, in the Ambassadors of Holiness session. She is committed to serving God by living, worshipping and working in communities where the limitless love of God can be experienced first-hand.
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