The Purpose of ChristmasSample

As the Christmas season begins, it might be easy to feel gratitude. There’s family to spend time with, holiday treats to consume, presents to give and receive, time to take a break, and more. In seasons like this one, gratitude can feel like a simple response. But that’s not true for all of us, is it? For some, this season doesn’t quickly or easily bring on thankfulness. When you’re forced to spend time with family members you don’t get along with when you can’t afford the gift you want, when you feel forgotten, alone, or overwhelmed amid the hustle and bustle that is Christmas, gratitude is probably the last thing you’re experiencing. In those moments, it’s important to remember God’s heart for us on display at Christmas.

When it feels like there’s nothing else to be thankful for in this life, the gift of Jesus and what it shows us about God’s love for us can still be top of the list. We can find gratitude in the Person of Jesus and what His arrival means, not just for us, but what His arrival means about how God feels about us. That is always something to be thankful for!

To help you stay focused on gratitude this Christmas, make a list of a few things you’re thankful for today and keep adding to it as the season goes on. If you can’t find anything else but the life of Jesus and the love of God, that’s okay! Those are the two most important, life-changing gifts to be thankful for in this and any season.