12 Days of Christmas: Day Four

Welcome to Day Four of the 12 Days of Christmas: Godly Girl Version! Emma and I are back once again, partnering with @em.graceful to bring to you this lovely series which highlights honoring God in this Christmas season as young women. We'd love to be praying for you over the next few weeks! Please drop a comment below, or contact us privately if you have a prayer request!

Day Four: the Gift of Giving

Cling, clang, cling. The bell in the Santa’s hand rings as he stands outside the grocery store. Snow blows around him, tossed to and fro by the blustery wind. People push past him, clutching their coats to their chests, and enter the warmth of the store. He’s just another one of the many Salvation Army Santas this time of year. 

Around Christmas, the opportunities for giving are all around us. Yet, it’s so easy to get caught up in getting instead. We write Christmas wish lists, letters to Santa, and veiled hints to friends. We shop from store to store, our arms overflowing with bags and packages. And then on Christmas morning, a stack of brightly papered presents lies beneath the tree, just waiting for us to open them. The commercialism of Christmas can distract us into believing it's all about us. But our focus should be on giving, not getting. 

There are two mindsets we often fall into about giving around the Christmas season. Either we ignore the opportunities, viewing them as background noise, or we use them to make us feel good about ourselves. Neither are healthy mindsets.

Are those opportunities just background noise?

Sometimes, in the bustle of life, things that seem… commonplace become overlooked. We lose the joy they contain. The Santas ringing bells become just another part of the Christmas aesthetic. Giving gifts to family and friends becomes a checklist item, rather than a chance to express love and gratitude. The jingle of bells fades into the screech of traffic, the wrapping paper becomes another layer of clutter. We forget that each small act of giving echoes the greatest gift ever given: Jesus Christ, the newborn King.

Instead of allowing those giving opportunities to fade into background noise, we should be on the lookout for them. Act on them to glorify and honor our Heavenly Father who gave the greatest gift possible. When generosity is fueled by a love for Christ, He can use it to show people His heart and truth.

Are those opportunities used to make us feel good about ourselves?

Other times, we seek out the opportunities for giving instead of missing them. But do we seek them for the right reasons? Giving isn’t about the warm glow we feel afterwards. It isn’t about the smiles and thank yous we’re showered with. And it certainly isn’t about making yourself “look good” in the eyes of friends. True giving is about the difference it makes in others’ lives, showing them compassion and generosity, illustrating that they aren’t forgotten but are loved. 1 John 4:19 says, “we love because He first loved us.” If our gifts stop at self-satisfaction, we’ve missed the deeper joy of sacrificial love.

True giving comes from a heart devoted fully to Christ. His love overflows through us into the lives of others, showing them His heart and allowing Him to work in them. So this Christmas season, ask yourself if you’re giving with the festivity of Christmas, or the spirit of Christ.

Thank you so much for joining us on Day Four of the 12 Days of Christmas: Godly Girl Version! Make sure to check out Emily's video on Instagram and we hope to see you tomorrow! And again, if you have a prayer request, please let us know!