The Gift of Love: Celebrating Jesus This Christmas
Merry Christmas, dear friends!
As I reflect on this beautiful season, my heart is filled with so much joy and gratitude. Christmas is always a time of celebration, but this year, I’m reminded of something truly incredible—God’s love, demonstrated so powerfully through the gift of His Son, Jesus.
In the midst of all the festivities, the gifts, and the special moments, I find myself thinking more and more about the true meaning of this season: the love of God that came down to us in the form of a tiny baby. It’s a love so deep, so pure, and so undeserved. It’s a love that reaches into our hearts and changes everything. And it’s because of this love, shown through the birth of Jesus, that we can have peace, joy, and hope—no matter where we are in life.
In 1 John 4:9-10 (NIV), we read:
“This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”
These verses hit me in a special way this Christmas. God didn’t wait for us to love Him first, to deserve His gift, or to get our act together. No—He loved us first. He sent His Son, Jesus, to be born into this world, to walk among us, and to give His life for us. This is love: that Jesus came, not just as a baby in a manger, but as the Savior who would ultimately lay down His life to reconcile us with God.
As I sit here today, I’m filled with gratitude for this love that changed everything. It’s a love that brought my family and me together in ways I never could have imagined. This Christmas, I am especially excited to be with my husband, my children, my precious granddaughter, and all the extended family that will be joining us. It’s been over five years since I’ve had all my kids under one roof, and the joy of being together, of sharing this special time, is overwhelming.
But there’s one person I’m especially thankful to be celebrating with this year: my mom. After years of struggle and distance, we have recently reconciled, and I cannot begin to describe how much this healing means to me. It is only through Jesus, through His love and forgiveness, that we were able to mend what was broken and find a new, deeper bond. This is love—love that restores, love that heals, and love that makes all things new. It’s love that was made possible only because of Our Jesus.
I think about the way Jesus came into the world—humble, unassuming, born in a manger to bring peace to a troubled world. And then I think about how His love continues to reach us today. He is the reason for all the good things we celebrate—family, reconciliation, grace, and hope. Because of Jesus and His love, we can love and forgive in ways that we never thought possible. His love makes all things new. His love is the reason we can experience healing and joy, even in the midst of our pain.
This Christmas, I pray that you feel the power of this love in a personal way. Whether you're surrounded by family or spending the day in quiet reflection, I pray that you feel His presence and peace. Our Jesus is the greatest gift of all, and it is through Him that we live, love, and find purpose in our lives. The hope of Christmas is not found in the gifts we give or receive, but in the fact that God loved us so much that He gave us His Son.
One more verse that has been close to my heart this season is from John 3:16:
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
This is love—the love that God demonstrated by sending His Son, not just to be with us, but to save us. And because of this love, we can live through Him, knowing that we are loved, cherished, and forgiven.
So, this Christmas, let’s celebrate the love that came down to us in the form of a tiny baby, born to change the world. Let’s remember that His love is the greatest gift of all, and let it fill our hearts with joy, peace, and hope for the days ahead.
Merry Christmas, and may you experience the love of Jesus in a new and powerful way today and always.
With love and blessings,
Madge
