Presents or Gifts?

When I was a child I wondered but did not ask, "why do we give presents on Christmas?" Now, you never look a gift horse in the mouth. If I would have vocalized this question the presents would have went bye, bye. But what do gifts have to do with Christmas.

The wise men brought Jesus gifts but the wise men will be dealt with later. These gifts were thought to go to a King or Prince. Shepherds brought only their praise. The Bible does not tell us about a drummer boy bringing Music. But all of us offer our praise and sung to Christ upon his Birthday.

But how about this birthday Party, You bring gifts for each other? The history of gift giving goes back to some shoemaker. The shoe maker or toy maker felt sorry for the Children in his Village and made shoes or toys for the winter Children. These gifts moved to getting children to behave themselves. The Naughty and the Nice are made distinct, I like the German tradition of putting your shoes outside your door and you will either receive switches or lickerish.

Now to the answer I tell myself. God do the man who does not need anything. He never had a place to lay his head but always shelter. He is the creator made flesh not needing gifts. But God tells us to show our love to him by showing our love to our Neighbor. The Love of God comes to us to share with one another. The Good works we do on account of God are Good works towards our Neighbor.

Thus, we give presents to one another because these are the people God loves. They do not deserve these gifts but we did not deserve our Christmas Savior either. Giving to each other is giving to Jesus on his Birthday. The Love for others is only reflected in the one who first loved us. Not just because another child is born but because a Son was given to death for the forgiveness of sins.

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