Unwrapping the True Gift of Christmas

Jackie's parents listened with interest, interested in the Christmas message of love and hope. They had always seen Christmas as a commercial holiday, but now they needed to understand its meaning. Lydia's family explained that Christmas wasn't about presents, football games, decorations, Christmas lights, or parties. Still, it was about celebrating God's love for us through the birth of His Son, Jesus.

As the evening went on, Jackie and her parents felt more and more at home, touched by Lydia's family's warmth and kindness. Lydia gave Jackie a small gift—a handmade card with a Bible verse about Jesus being the Light of the world. Jackie was touched deeply by her gesture and felt a sense of belonging and understanding for the first time.

A Beacon of Christmas Devotions

A young girl name Lydia, her heart overflowing with sincere devotions to Christmas, lives in a small town nestled between neighborhoods that radiate with a comforting glow and trails that meander through the cold winter lanscape. Her devotion to Christmas was not merely a result of the presents, cookies, or decorations, but a sacred time for her to honor the birth of Jesus, the Light of the World.

Lydia's Christmas Mission: Spreading Love and Understanding

Lydia's family had a tradition of reading the Christmas story from the Bible every Christmas Eve. As she got older, Lydia's comprehension of Jesus' deep love for humanity deepened—a love so immense that God sent His only Son to the world as a baby to grow up and sacrifice His life on the cross for all of us.

As the Christmas holiday drew near, Lydia’s school began to transform with Christmas trees in many areas of the building. The classrooms were decorated with ornaments, snowflakes, and Christmas lights. One day, Lydia noticed that her friend Jackie was sad. She often didn’t share much about what she wanted for Christmas or the cookies she was looking forward to eating and didn't join the holiday celebrations. Lydia, her heart filled with deep love and empathy, decided to ask Jackie why she was sad when Christmas Day, a joyous day, was approaching. Jackie shared that her family didn't celebrate Christmas and that it was difficult for her to understand Christmas and what it was all about. She felt left out, unable to grasp why it was a significant occasion for everyone else.

Lydia saw this as an opportunity to share the love of Jesus. She confided in her parents about Jackie's situation, and they suggested inviting Jackie and her family over for Christmas dinner. Despite some initial hesitation, Lydia eagerly extended the invitation, and Jackie's parents decided to accept, fascinated to understand what Christmas meant to Lydia's family.

A Warm Welcome and the Story of Jesus' Birth

On the evening of the dinner, Lydia's family welcomed Maddie, her mom, and her dad into their home. The house was filled with the aroma of festive food and freshly baked cookies and decorated with candles and Christmas wreaths, creating an atmosphere of warmth, peace,
and joy. Over a delicious meal, Lydia's parents shared the story of Jesus' birth, explaining how it was a gift of love from God to the world. They spoke about the shepherds, the angel’s message, the wise men, and how Jesus came to bring hope and Light into everyone's lives.